Jerry Coker

Jerry Coker was born in rural Arkansas in 1938. He is well known for his “identity masks”--metal masks often based on people from his childhood. He shapes these personalities from salvaged, rusty roofing tin and wood. Coker also fashions small standing metal sculptures and wall metal reliefs from scrap roofing metal and wood. After a serious heart attack, he took an extended break from making art, but he is back to creating again. Recently he began painting with acrylic paint on board, cardboard, and on other cast-off materials. Coker has lived much of his life in Florida and still resides there. His art is in several important collections throughout the United States including that of Microsoft Corporation.