Carl Jung

When I was a young artist, I was drawn to those who had shaped the world in profound ways—whether they were mathematicians, psychologists, or spiritual leaders. I studied their work, learned about their lives, and absorbed what others had said about them. One of the figures who captivated me was Carl Jung, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst whose ideas have had a lasting impact on modern psychology.

Jung’s theory of the collective unconscious—the idea that our psyche is shaped not only by our personal experiences but by a shared, universal unconscious—fascinated me. There’s so much written about Jung that you could spend a lifetime diving into it, and for me, part of understanding his ideas was painting him. Over the years, I’ve painted many of the people who’ve influenced my thinking, and this painting is part of that ongoing exploration.

In the '70s, when I was a struggling artist in Seattle, a friend's father purchased many of my early works, including this one. Over time, I lost track of it—forgot I’d even painted it. Years later, I got a call from a man who had bought it from my friend. He was moving to the East Coast and needed to downsize his collection. And just like that, this piece made its way back to me.

At 30" x 40", this painting captures the essence of someone whose ideas have shaped not only the field of psychology but also the way many of us understand the human experience.