Director of Creative Services for University Relations at the University of Florida Jim Harrison (BFA Graphic Design ’10) was recently featured in an exhibition entitled MetaVisual: The Graphic Art of Jim Harrison located in the South Gallery at Florida State College at Jacksonville. Harrison, an award-winning artist and graphic designer, has lived in Gainesville since 1986 and runs a graphic design studio MetaVisual, Inc. that he established in 2007 to better serve his customers. Specializing in branding, identity and visual systems, this private design studio is a former SAPPI Ideas That Matter grant recipient, and is also known for the Gainesville Fruit Co. series of art prints that celebrate cherished Gainesville landmarks in the style of vintage produce labels.
This exhibition consisted of his work for the Gainesville Fruit Co. among others. “It is a kind of career retrospective, but mostly consists of work done in the past 10 years, both for my clients and for my personal work,” says Harrison.
This is not Harrison’s first solo show, but he admits that he doesn’t exhibit often. “It’s unusual for a graphic artist to have an exhibition of work,” explains Harrison. “At this rate, I would say once every few years is a pretty generous estimate.”
Harrison considers himself lucky that his work has mostly been able to stay focused on a sense of community, and the nostalgia and pride felt amongst Gainesville and Alachua County residents.
“That success has translated into many other opportunities to advocate creatively on behalf of clients and organizations with their strategic creative efforts beyond my personal work,” continues Harrison, “but I have always returned to the pull of promoting my community and contributing creatively to its betterment.”
