ABOUT THE ARTIST

ARTIST BIO

Jacob Fertig is an artist, educator, writer, and illustrator from West Virginia. Jake grew up in Fraziers Bottom, WV where he was deeply influenced by a weird combination: the fading aesthetic of abandoned lands, farms, and barns of his home, and the wacky feel of 90’s childrens television. From an early age his work focused on an eclectic mix of work from drawing and painting, to building using materials he had at hand.

Jake is a graduate of Winfield High School, where he learned about the importance of subversion in art and using humor to address unpopular topics. 

In 2005 he enrolled in West Virginia State University. During this time he focused on developing his artwork while attending extra courses ranging from Education to Art to Film to History, eventually showing his animated film The Circus in the 2007 WVSU Student Exhibition. He would go on to show it at the West Virginia Filmmakers Film Festival where he would win the Best Animation Award in 2007, and the Jay Saunders Film Festival at Auburn University where it would gain an Honorable Mention. 

He graduated from West Virginia State University in 2012 with a Bachelors of Science in Visual Arts Education, certifying him to teach Visual Arts (PreK-AD). Out of college he would work 4 jobs at the same time: Substitute teaching for Putnam County Schools, tutoring work through the Bob Burdette Center, retail work at Spencers in the Charleston Town Center Mall, and commission and exhibition work through his own fine arts business. In the Summer of 2013 he was hired as a full time teacher by Kanawha County Schools.

Shortly after starting full time he gained additional certifications in Social Studies (5-AD) and Multi-Categorical Special Education (LD, BD, ID, DD; K-AD). In 2013 He started non-degree focused graduate credit work through Marshall University where he would eventually complete an additional 15 credit hours of education focused graduate level coursework.

From 2013 to 2025 he was involved in a variety of creative projects, being involved in over a dozen shows, exhibitions, and film festivals. In this time he would produce, write, and direct three feature films: Rabidts, Frothy the Undead Snowman, and Cluk’d. 

From 2017 to 2025 Jake would serve in leadership roles with AFT-West Virginia, including Executive Board Member, Treasurer and Vice President of AFT Kanawha Local 4444, which at the time was the largest union local in West Virginia. He would also serve a short stint in 2025 on the state executive board. During his tenure on union leadership he helped to organize the 2018 West Virginia Teachers Strike, and participated in the 2019 West Virginia Teachers Strike standing on picket lines with his union brothers and sisters in Putnam County when that board chose to remain open.

In the Summer of 2026 Jake graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Masters of Arts in Art and Design with an emphasis in Education. 

Jake continues to focus on his work as a classroom teacher with Kanawha County Schools, furthering his education and experience to best serve his students and the communities served by the public school system in West Virginia. His work is still being shown locally at various festivals, and when inventory is available, at the world famous Stray Dog Antiques in Charleston.