Jacob Cooley received a BFA from the University of Georgia, Athens in 1990 then in 1993 completed his MFA degree in painting from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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Cooley's paintings depict harmonious, hallowed places, landscapes about contemplation and the spirit. He captures the transient, ephemeral characteristics of light and darkness with seamless brushstrokes.

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Cooley's work can be found in collections such as the Duke University Museum of Art, Durham, NC; Kenan Institute for the Arts, Winston Salem, NC; NCSAS Institute, Cary, NC; Glaxo-Wellcome, Durham, NC; Kilpatrick, Townsend & Stockton, Charlotte, NC.