Check Out Janet Gervers’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Gervers.

Hi Janet, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m a self-taught abstract artist that decided to put a focus on my art when I lived in LA and the Venice neighborhood around 2013-14 when I was in my 40s..Professionally I’ve been a website and branding designer for 30 plus years now with training and graphic design. I started showing art in Venice pop-ups and venues, like NextSpace Venice co-working. From that point it sprung like a fountain to a solo show at the Hollywood Sculpture Garden, I’ve exhibits at BG gallery, Bergamot station in Santa Monica including their booth at the Los Angeles art show in 2020. During covid I exhibited online in several Socal galleries. My art was in Art Miami BAsel Week in Red Dot and Spectrum Art Fairs. In 2025 I moved to Delray Beach, FL which has has amazing art opportunities for my art, participating in exhibits in Delray Beach to Lake Worth Beach.
My entire art focus is on uplifting you in your environment with art. Art filled with positivity.
If you want to see what I’m up tp, you’re invited to view my art website:
https://janetgervers.com

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth, what’s that? LOL. The journey started out bumpy as LA is a very competitive place with so many talented artists and not enough gallery spaces. While there are more spaces no, there were fewer when I started and regardless, the competition is fierce. While South Florida is definitely competitive with a large talent pool, there are more opportunities. For example, I’m involved in two Art groups: Art Connect Palm Beach and Lake Worth Art League. I’ve been in a number of juried art shows at different venues overall, including the Delray Beach Downtown Library (it has a gallery on the 2nd floor), pop-ups at the Cornell Art Museum, in the gallery of the latter group and currently in the the Delray Beach Chamber Of Commerce. I have found that being proactive person always looking for opportunities and putting myself out there is definitely a benefit, whether it’s SoCal or SoFlo, that, in addition to my talent. Another challenge is that people can be dismissive of abstract art or art that is positive, however I’ve really been finding here in South Florida that there is more openness to my uplifting approach. For example, my abstract marker art was selected to be on a billboard in Fort Lauderdale by the Art 13, a non-profit group that activates spaces in central Lauderdale., My art was on the grounds of a shelter for youth that were too old for the foster care system, called H.O.M.E.S where the art billboards were located from January-May 2026.
I’m proud to be involved in the many opportunities here and you’ll be seeing more of me. I’m grateful to have the opportunities that I had while I was in Los Angeles.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
While I’ve been an artist my entire life, loving painting, sketching and drawing, I was taught early on that art was not a real career option, so I dismissed it when I was deciding on my profession back in high school. I took all of the Studio Art and Art AP plus Art History AP classes in high school. I won a scholarship to a drawing class at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. (Cincinnati is where I’m from.) I found out what graphic design was in high school from college brochures and instantly knew that I wanted to do that and still do that to this day. My degree in Graphic Design is from the University of Cincinnati, School of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning.
A few years after graduation I decided I wanted to move to the design mecca, San Francisco, the first city I lived in in California. I had just heard about web design, keep in mind this was 1994 and while I didn’t know what it was I said, “I’m going to be a website designer”. Within 6 months of moving to San Francisco, I started designing websites and digital media. Fun fact: I created Starbucks first online store on AOL.
My 30-year journey in California took me to Pasadena for a multimedia design position at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, yes space missions and all! During that time, I found Venice and fell in love with that community and had to move there, which I did around 2000. I was creating digital art at the time which was still a new thing and was included in some exhibits in Venice including charity fundraisers and on the walls at beloved Councilman Bill Rosendahl’s office in West LA.
I started a group called Venice Art Collective from 2003 to 08 that gave local artists the chance to be seen in various venues. Fun Fact: At the time people thought I was crazy for the idea of showing Venice artists and local shops or restaurants. For real! you wouldn’t even think of that now!
After a few shows one of my board members, artist, Jen Zen, said to me, “Why don’t you show your art”? So I did. I came out of the shadows and started showing my art – and here’s where I am today!
I’ve got to say that creativity is my superpower for both Art and Design they are two areas of my life that I focus on. My Web + Branding studio is JAGmedia. Fun Fact: m the name has my initials.
I am most proud of that I use all my creative talents and that I decided to step out and focus on my art in my 40s and I am continuing my art journey. It’s never too late to get started! If you want to see what I’m up to you’re invited to visit both of my websites.
Art:
https://janetgervers.com
Design:
https://jagmedia.net

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
It’s a blend of both Art and Design. Since I started in design, my boss ,Sallie McFadden, Art Director at division of Federated Department Stores (formerly in downtown Cincinnati) was there to support me and guide me in a competitive environment when I started my job and throughout my 4 years there. The entire production department had interviewed for my job and most of them treated me in a hateful manner.
She was the only woman mentor I’m really had in my career. Unfortunately, while the generation ahead of me had worked really hard to get where they were, they did not want to make it easier for anyone else; at least that’s been my experience.
After I started my design business, JAGmedia in Venice, I came across a man named Jeffrey Solomon, back when the Venice Chamber of Commerce was a client of mine. Fun fact: I created their first website that increased their membership by 300%.
Jeffrey wanted to meet up with me for coffee one day and he was talking to me about dreaming big. I was unfamiliar with that concept at the time. He was always there to help me to lean forward in my career. During that time, I also started a blog to help promote the First Fridays on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice when it was just starting and no one was coming. My blog, AbbotKinneyFirstFridays.com skyrocketed the event in popularity and was a page one Google for many years.
Unfortunately, there were detractors in Venice, which was a small community and the funny thing was that some of them were the people who were complaining that there weren’t enough people coming to the event. It really helped to have Jeffrey Solomon as a supporter during that time. One of the things that I did learn is if you step out to help others there will be detractors, especially ones that didn’t get there first.
In the art world, Om Bleicher from BG Gallery has been a big supporter of mine. Back when I was more involved in blogging we had a conversation and I said to him, “When I’m ready to show my art I’ll get in touch with you”. At some point we talked and he invited me apply to the Spectrum art show which is one of the gallery’s most popular exhibits every year. 2019 was the first year that I was in it and at the end of the year he invited me to be one of the artists at his booth at the Los Angeles Art Fair. Wow, what a dream come true!
Fun Fact: I exhibited my art in five Spectrum shows at BG Gallery with the last one in June/July 2025, a few weeks before my cross country move.
In addition, Robby Gordon from the Hollywood Sculpture Garden gave me my first solo show opportunity in 2018. I met him at an opening at The Loft at Liz’s and I commented on his tie which I found out was one that he had hand painted and his motto was “paint everything” – he really does. After that I called him and asked if there were any opportunities to show my art. He said yes. While he’s known for showing sculpture in his terraced yard in the Hollywood Hills, transforming his garage space into a gallery space.
I also must mention my husband, Tryg Hanson who help me transform that garage into a gallery space and has been supporting me and my art career the whole time, whether it’s setting up shows, inviting people and being my photographer. I love having a creative partner in life!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://janetgervers.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janetagervers
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetgervers
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetgervers
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JanetGervers
• Other: https://jagmedia.net

Image Credits
Janet Gervers
Tryg Hanson