Lee Jaffe first came to international prominence in the 1980s with his large scale, multi-media historical assemblage works. His chosen themes are controversial and visionary, an exploration of the world’s urgently changing internal circumstances. His genius lies in his quest to overcome the dogma of any single classification, treating topics in all fields including the exploitation of the black performer in America, the cruelty of the fur industry, the relationship of the Native American to his environment, the ambiguity of America’s traitors. Lee Jaffe combs communal history for universal deficiencies, searching not to reconcile, but to bring light from a different direction.

These critically acclaimed artworks quickly became the subject for a number of major museum exhibitions; including solo shows at Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden; The Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin; and the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, England. His works are collected by many important museums and private collectors.

Prior to this period of art production Lee Jaffe played a unique role in the history and early international recognition of Reggae music and culture. Lee Jaffe lived with Bob Marley in Jamaica for three years and was a member of The Wailers playing harmonica. He later produced Peter Tosh’s “Legalize It” album and shot the iconographic album cover. Jaffe has produced other recordings for Joe Higgs (considered the father of reggae), the Wailing Souls(Grammy nominated), and dancehall innovator Barrington Levy.

Fred Hoffman, Santa Monica, California 2007