NJCU’s Visual Arts Gallery reopens its door to a new exhibit called “Jerome China: Found and Reclaimed” from February 12th to March 20th. Jerome China is a Jersey City-based sculptor, born in 1961 in Richmond, Virginia. China is known for his abstract metal sculptures made from rusted and discarded scrap metal, automobile gears and other industrial detritus. His pieces are a fusion of found metal, impulsive ideation and life context.  

China started his career in 2012 and received his early training as the first artist-in-residence at All Iron Works commercial welding and fabrication shop currently located in Hoboken, NJ. In addition, he studied with blacksmith Paul Januz at Gravity Line Forge. These artist-residence experiences provided a balanced foundation in welding, black smithing and metallurgy. China has lived in New York and Virginia and currently lives in Jersey City, NJ. 

“Found and Reclaimed” is an exploration of rediscovery, transformation, and the reclamation of what was once thought to be lost, forgotten, or overlooked. In this exhibition, the artist investigates the idea that what is “found” is often more than just a physical object or a moment in time; it is the reawakening of something deep within, something that holds meaning, power, or beauty that was hidden in plain sight or lost to time. The work challenges the notion of performance, suggesting that everything has the potential for reclamation. Whether it’s a forgotten memory, a discarded object, or a part of our own identity.  

The pieces featured in the “Found and Reclaimed” exhibition utilize metal sculptures to tell stories of rediscovery. It examines how the act of reclaiming something—whether a personal narrative, a physical object, or an abstract concept can give it new life, purpose, and significance. It invites the viewer to witness how what was once forgotten or neglected can emerge with renewed meaning, and it also offers fresh insights into the past while shaping the present. Each piece poses questions about the nature of value, ownership, history, and recognition of their worth until looking at them through a different lens. 

China presents “found” objects and ideas that were once discarded, reimagined, or altered, breathing new life into them and reflecting on the potential inherent in reinterpreting what has been overlooked.  

The concept of “reclamation” extends beyond material objects to encompass ideas, relationships, and identities that may have been buried or silenced. Whether it’s reclaiming a forgotten culture, a lost tradition, or personal experiences that shaped who we are, these works underscore the transformative power of re-engaging with the past to create something new. 

Jerome China spoke about his work during the exhibition opening at NJCU’s Visual Arts Gallery on February 12th:  

China: “I would probably say, just from reading about African work, somewhere in the background, it’s in my DNA. But, you know, I don’t think about the work while I’m making it. It just kind of, like, comes out, and if it has more of an African flavor to it, that’s fine with me, but it’s not something that’s really conscious for me.” 

When visiting the Found and Reclaimed exhibition, it will suggest that nothing is ever truly lost forever. It calls on us to reflect on the ways we hold onto, re-imagine, and restore that which is discarded, overlooked or forgotten. Whether in the world around us or within ourselves. What we find, and what we reclaim, can serve as reminders that everything has the potential for renewal and transformation, contributing to a deeper understanding of who we are and where we have been.  

You have until March 20th to see the exhibition for yourself at NJCU’s Visual Arts Gallery.