image, I Found Myself Entirely Contained in the Great Basket of the World, oil on canvas, 10" x 10", 2024
bio. Jordan Zane Quintero
Contemporary Californian Painter & Designer
Born in San José, CA (1981); BA in Art, University of California, Santa Cruz (2005)
Studio Based: Central Coast of California
Artistic Vision & Practice
Jordan Quintero works in cycles of interwoven series—blending abstract and figurative imagery to explore themes of consciousness, memory, myth, and landscape. His paintings are deeply rooted in California geography yet infused with universal human narratives. He describes his process as "synesthetic," a dance between spiritual intention and physical action that produces deeply textured, emotive work.
Raised on the Central Coast and formally trained at UCSC, Quintero returned to the region after formative experiences in San Francisco, ultimately establishing his art and design practice in Los Osos. He blends his architectural and woodworking background—especially alongside his early training as a carpenter—with fine art techniques, creating richly layered pieces on wood panels using mixed media and oil that emphasize material integrity and craftsmanship.
Signature Series & Themes
Quintero’s portfolio includes bodies of work titled Coast Ranges, Trying To Be A Tree, and Organitecture. Each references natural systems, indigenous pattern motifs, and a contemplative relationship between humanity and landscape. These works often reflect California scenes through innovative abstraction grounded in technique, emotional experience and local identity.
Exhibitions & Community Engagement
Quintero founded Roots Gallery + Design Co. in Los Osos, which showcases local artists and installations while serving as his design studio and exhibition space.
He has exhibited widely on the Central Coast, including significant solo and group shows at Dune Central Coast, the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, and Humankind Fair Trade, often in conjunction with the city’s renowned Art After Dark events.
In 2021, Quintero presented a duo exhibition entitled Humans alongside artist Charlie Rugg at Roots Gallery, curated through the San Luis Obispo Arts Council’s Art About Town program. The show featured mixed‑media explorations of human relationships to self, gaze, and environment.
Recognition & Signature Works
Featured in curated collections and art platforms like Saatchi Art, Quintero’s sold pieces include notable works such as Zeus in Dodona, Daphne, and Eros and Psyche—each merging mythological narrative with abstract-material expression on wood panels.His deep engagement with process, form, and material resonates in his visionary works, which evoke a timeless dialogue between landscape, myth, and the human condition.
Why Jordan Quintero Matters to Audiences
Produces visually striking, conceptually rich works rooted in Californian geography and global myth.
Bridges fine art with architectural sensibility and ecological awareness.
Enriches the regional art ecosystem through curatorial and design leadership at Roots Gallery.
Ideal for institutions and curators seeking art that merges natural beauty, craftsmanship, and narrative depth.
Jordan Quintero’s work navigates the tension between abstraction and representation, tradition and transformation—making him a compelling voice in contemporary American painting.