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Len Jagoda
Backstretch Studio
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(Click on the image for purchase information)
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| "Big Brown" - a formal portrait |
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| "Pure Instinct - Vizsla in the Field" |
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| "Rachel Alexandra - First Lady of the Turf" |
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| "Big Brown Goes Courtin'" |
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| Distorted Humor: Sire of Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide |
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| Stretch Run |
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| Bullmastiff |
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| "Sabaskanova" (Arabian Mare) |
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| Dakota English Pointer |
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| Johannesburg Champion 2 Year Old |
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| Beatrice |
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| Parisco Von Cocoa |
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| A. P. Indy Champion |
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| Frank, alias Sweet Ice Tea |
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| Ghost Hunting in the Mist |
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| At the Wire...and all alone |
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| Tender Moments, Mare and Foal |
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| Ro Saabi - Portrait of an Arabian Stallion |
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| How About a Hug? Portrait of Dodger |
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| Whiz By |
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| Sweet Ice Tea, alias Frank |
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| "Match Race" |
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| Tribute |
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| Closing In |
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| Closing In |
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The draft prevented Len Jagoda from taking advantage of a scholarship to the Cleveland Institute of Art. Upon his release from active duty he attended college on the GI Bill but majored in business instead of art, preferring “to be able to eat”. Almost completely abandoning art for the next 30 years; he continued to be involved with horses. His equine familiarity comes from true “hands on” experience that includes delivering foals, training and exercising horses. His devotion to dogs is just as passionate. Over the years he and his wife have adopted over 30 homeless dogs most living into their teens. Len accuses St. Francis of Assisi of having a duty station at the edge of their property, where he guides animals in need of help to them.
In February 2007 he committed to art on a full time basis. Upon his reentry to art, he made a conscious decision to work only in pencil (graphite) and sculpture concentrating on basics of form and values. He only moved on to the medium of pastels after spending over a year in his self imposed apprenticeship.
It is no surprise that his art is centered on dogs and horses. His first sculpture cast in bronze, titled “Tribute – Labrador Retriever Portrait in Bronze”, marked his return to art, and captured five awards including two Best in Show awards, a First Place, an Honorable Mention (national level competition) and a Merit Award in five separate competitions. Among his six other awards are first and second place honors respectively for his pastel portraits of “Johannesburg” and “Distorted Humor” and a second place for his bronze titled “Closing In”, in state competition. He was twice honored by having his art featured on the cover of a national publication.
Len is a member of the Columbus Artists Guild and the Southern Rivers Artists Guild and has been admitted to many juried shows and galleries including the 2008 Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival and the Southern Rivers Art Exhibit at Callaway Gardens. In 2009 the American Academy of Equine Art’s accepted two of his works to its Fall International Exhibition where from over 600 pieces of art submitted, only 80 pieces were accepted. In the spring of 2010 his portrait of Big Brown was one of 75 accepted to the LSU International Exhibit on Animals in Art from 477 entries. He has been selected to create the official art for the 2011 Aiken Steeplechase.
His works are in homes and private collections from as far west as Washington to the east coast and as far away as Saudi Arabia they can also be found hanging in some of the most prestigious stud farms in Kentucky.
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| Len Jagoda |
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| Demonstration for the June 2008 meeting of the Columbus Artists' Guild |
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| Len Jagoda winning Best of Show at Arts on the River, 2008 |
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