About Jackson O'Rourke

Co-founder

My name’s Jackson. I’m an artist, curator, and co-founder of Plinths.

I got my start in Texas, working as an abstract, textural artist drawn to heavy materials and physical processes. For me, making art has always been about more than just the work itself. It’s about building space for creative people to connect, grow, and be seen.

After moving to Washington State in 2017, I started an artist-run studio co-op called The Piano Room. It was a space for artists to make and show their work, and for a while, it doubled as a DIY, all-ages venue. We lost the space during the COVID lockdowns but that experience taught me a lot about community, resilience, and what artists really need to thrive.

In 2019, I co-opened Geheim Gallery, which gave me the chance to take that vision further. Since then, I’ve curated over 100 exhibitions across a wide range of venues and formats—from intimate solo shows to large-scale group exhibitions in partnership with Seattle nonprofit FFTT. I’m currently serving as a state curator for the Washington State Arts Commission, where I help bring more visibility and opportunity to artists across the region.

For a short time, I worked at a web company that claimed to support artists but even in just a few months, it became clear that it wasn’t built with us in mind. The tools weren’t flexible, the support didn’t reflect our values, and too many artists were being left behind.

That’s why we started Plinths.

This is more than just a business for me. It’s a continuation of everything I’ve been doing as an artist and curator supporting the creative community and making sure artists have what they need to be seen.