Jacob and Rebecca share the experience of growing up cross-culturally and feel called to serve as bridge-builders. Jacob grew up in Slovakia, his parents are from Iowa; Rebecca grew up in Switzerland & Canada and went to school in Iowa. Both were drawn to art as a means to process their cross-cultural experiences and have come to see that art can be a way to communicate truth. They especially value illustrating children’s books to nurture imagination, gratitude, and an appreciation for God’s creation.

Jacob worked as the Orchestra Director at Regina Catholic Education Center in Iowa City, IA. Then as the Education Specialist at the National Czech/Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, IA USA. He hosted folk arts workshops and classical music concerts for the region. Since completing their artist residency at the Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan, Ireland fall of 2023, Jacob and Rebecca collaborate in an Art & Ecology practice. They were grant funded by the Iowa Council for the Arts to create art for the purpose of conservation through the 2023-2024 Iowa Oak Project.

In 2024, their Art and Ecology Practice led them to Fairbanks, Alaska for the pristine outdoor air. Jacob worked with The Folk School to host illustration courses and with the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival to teach a Children’s Book Illustration Workshop. Rebecca got involved in nurturing community at Bethel Church and began to develop indoor air quality research projects at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

In 2025 JRL Art & Ecology moved to Zürich, Switzerland. We are open to collaborations, commissions, and ideas for how to sustain our practice in the context of Rebecca’s first home country of Switzerland. We can offer illustration and wedding painting and are still accepting commissions for 2025/2026.