Jim McKeon graduated from The School of Visual Arts in 1987. He has since traveled to over 20 countries and spent two years living in Ecuador, where he ran The South American Explorers Club. Additionally, he spent a year painting in London. Jim's artwork reflects a wide range of influences from his fascination with world religions and the concept of spirituality to social realism. His life-size portraits present the viewer with a deep view into the eyes and the complexity of the person being painted.

In 2007, he founded the Rahway Art Hive Studio and Co-Op Gallery. The Art Hive is a working studio for five resident artists where they create the bulk of their artwork. The public is encouraged to come in to see the works in progress and talk with the artists. Once a month, the Art Hive becomes a co-op gallery for the artists to display and sell finished work.

The vision for The Broken Hearts Memorial came to Jim one day during a conversation about iconic tattoo symbols with a friend who had a son serving in Iraq. It started out as a small idea to paint a cracked heart on a canvas and grew into the 36 foot free standing wall that is the Broken Hearts memorial you see today. As an artist, Jim is honored and grateful for the opportunity to be able to pay tribute to our fallen soldiers as well as their surviving families.

The artist would especially like to thank Mayor James Kennedy and the City of Rahway for their generous support of the project. The memorial is a direct result of the city's support for our troops along with its’ deep commitment to promoting and expanding the arts in Rahway.

For more information on Jim McKeon and his artwork, visit www.jimmckeon.com.