Br. Jean Fish, OSB, is a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, who is originally from Poway, CA. He made his solemn vows at Saint Meinrad in January of 2019. Along with teaching art workshops/retreats, Br. Jean is a mentor for the men who are discerning a monastic vocation. Currently, he has work that can be purchased at Saint Meinrad Books and Gifts, Traditional Arts Today in Ferdinand, IN, as well as Arrowmont: School of Art and Craft in Gatlinburg, TN and Knoxville, TN.
In 2013, Br. Jean completed a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology at Sonoma State University. In 2019, he completed a Master of Art in Theology at Saint Meinrad School of Theology. In 2024, he completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a concentration in sculpture at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The primary art medium that he uses is sculptural basket weaving. He learned this process while taking a week-long workshop at Arrowmont in 2021. The process of basket weaving involves making each individual stitch by hand. The rigidity of a finished basket comes from the tension of the strings that make the basket. While pursuing his Bachelor of Fine Arts, his work discussed grief and the role that contemplation can have during the search for peace.