Jeff Boutin
Jeff was born in 1971 in Minnesota. He grew up on a small hobby farm north of Minneapolis in Milaca. Jeff struggled with epilepsy his entire youth. He found pleasure in art. Along with three other classmates, they wrote and designed their own comic book in 7th and 8th grade. In 9th grade, his art teacher recommended Jeff to a company looking for drawings and paintings of fish and wildlife. At the age of 17, he was hired by a Minneapolis company that custom painted designs on cars.
He eventually found himself in the carpet business. Within a short period of time, he purchased tufting machines from Georgia and launched Minnesota’s first carpet mill. Jeff’s beautifully colored, hand-tufted rugs and carpets can be found in homes and businesses throughout the United States.
In 2003, Jeff sold the business and started painting full time. He has come full circle in his life and has finally found satisfaction in what he’s able to create. Although he attempted art school, he felt it wasn’t what he needed for the direction he was taking with art. He loves the discovery of art; school just seemed to make things predictable and similar to everyone else’s art. Jeff is forging his own way in the art community.
Exhibitions
September 2005 Art Resources Gallery, Minneapolis, MN “Ford Smith/Boutin”
February 2006 Art Resources Gallery, Minneapolis, MN “The Art of Jeff Boutin”
March 2006 The Gallery, Beaufort, SC “Art Walk”
2005-2006 Grand Openings of ASID Homes Minneapolis, MN
Fall 2006 Luxury Home Tour, Minneapolis, MN
September 2006 The Good Life, “A Little Something Different” Minneapolis, MN
February 2007 Art Resources Gallery, Minneapolis, MN “Jeff Boutin”
April 2007 Children’s Hospital Benefit, Minneapolis, MN
June 2007 Arte Gallery, Des Moines, IA
October 2007 The Gallery, Beaufort, SC “Art Walk”
February 2008 Art Resources Gallery, Minneapolis, MN “A Study in Contrasts”
Gallery Representation
Art Resources Gallery Edina, Mn. www.artresourcesgallery.com
Art Resources Minneapolis, Mn. www.artresourcesgallery.com
Waters of Superior (Duluth, MN) www.watersofsuperior.com
Thompson’s Frame and Gallery (Alpharetta, GA)
The Gallery (Beaufort, SC) www.thegallery-beaufort.com
Larson Rugs www.larsonrugs.com
Longstreth-Goldberg (Naples, FL)
Arches Gallery California
Abode in Stockholm, WI www.abodegallery.com
Cimarron Art & Framing Services in Omaha, NE
Kelley Frame & Fine Art Gallery in Hudson, WI and Woodbury, MN www.kelleygalleries.com
Your Art's Desire Frame & Art Gallery in Minnetonka, MN
“I want my paintings to reflect great power and emotional intensity, yet a simple happiness.”
-Jeff Boutin