Jeff Soto (American, b. 1975) is a painter, illustrator, and muralist whose work bridges pop surrealism and street art.,He discovered traditional painting and illegal graffiti simultaneously as a youth, and both have shaped his bold, representational style ever since, drawing on youthful nostalgia, nature, and popular culture.
Born in Fullerton, California, he lives and works in Riverside, where he holds a position as Associate Professor of Art at Riverside City College. He earned a BFA from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena in 2002.His paintings draw on influences including Max Ernst, Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Amedeo Modigliani, and Paul Cadmus, populated with odd characters and furry creatures that can be both apocalyptic and playful.
His solo exhibitions include “The Sotofish Society” at Jonathan LeVine Gallery in New York in 2016, “FutureGods” at the Lancaster Museum of Art in 2018, and “Sadlands” at KP Projects in Los Angeles in 2023, which explored daydreams of a future Southern California lost to time and technology.,,Group exhibitions include the 2008 survey “In the Land of Retinal Delights: The Juxtapoz School” at the Laguna Museum of Art, and a group show at the Museo d'Arte Contemporanea di Roma.,In 2018 his work entered the California State Senate's Contemporary Art Collection at the State Capitol in Sacramento.He has also painted murals in cities including Los Angeles, Berlin, Paris, Tokyo, and London, and since 2010 has illustrated promotional posters for bands including Pearl Jam, The Black Keys, and Soundgarden.,
