New Orleans artist Jax Frey has recently been certified as the world's most prolific painter, with a whopping 20,000 (and counting) canvases to her credit. Frey's most recognizable work is her Little Views series of colorful, textured looks at New Orleans and Louisiana on four-inch-square canvases. The bright, friendly little pieces of art—a petit four for the eyes, an amuse-bouche for the soul—grace walls of homes and business all over the city and beyond. NOLA-born Frey says they began when she was traveling and would paint things that made her think of New Orleans, little glimpses of memory to remind her of home—and then, when they proved popular, became not just an artistic expression but a booming business, with Frey often providing custom art for special occasions.
Getting her record certified wasn't as easy as you might think. Guinness refused to credit her, citing Picasso's extensive catalog not just of paintings, but prints, illustrations, and ceramics. Frey, reasonably, objected: she's not claiming to be the most prolific artist or printmaker, she's simply painted more canvases than Picasso, who clocks in with a paltry 13,500. When Guinness remained intransigent, she contacted competitor World Records Academy, who were more than happy to give her credit, for the impressive if fairly specific feat of "Most Original Acrylic Paintings on Canvas by One Artist." (Take that, Pablo.) Frey's case was helped by her meticulous record-keeping—she's painted 20,000 paintings and she has 20,000 receipts!
She's waiting for the plaque to come in the mail, but in the meantime, she's having a party. Saturday, July 8, come by 110 Athania Pkwy in Metairie, Louisiana, for complimentary refreshments and to view (and purchase!) Frey’s artwork, including both the Little Views and some of her less well-known pieces. If you can't make it then, her studio is usually open on the second Saturday of each month. artbyjax.com.
