Jai Vasicek: Drawing From Experience

By Niall Roeder

Jai Vasicek is a young, Byron Bay-based artist and shop owner. Decorative crucifixes, embellished tiles, painted pillows and mixed media canvases litter his creative repertoire. Trying to put one’s finger on his style is a challenge and much like his art, he is one intriguing fellow.

Vasicek had an curious youth; it included living on a boat called ‘Malachi’ with his family, a student exchange to Quebec, finishing high school on the Goldy and then at the ripe old age of 18, shooting off on a round-the-world trip. Four years later, after discovering Africa, Mongolia, Indonesia, Europe and South America he returned down under to open an art gallery in Byron Bay and Port Douglas.

The galleries go by the name Ahoy Trader and they’re filled to the brim with his sought after works of all shapes and sizes. His eclectic style of art clearly draws inspiration from his movie script-like life: the exotic places he’s visited and the cultures he’s tasted. “His designs feature vibrant colour with layers of print and patterns inspired by the sea and forest, with exotic creatures, feather and shell adornments, bold motifs, religious iconography and evocative female forms from polynesian beauties to ocean sirens. Splashes of neon and bright colours and the raw textures of resins and grouting bring every piece to life, making them a truly unique style statement.”