Jay Blumenfeld (b. 1954) grew up in South St. Paul, Minnesota, and began photographing as a teenager, using a Nikon to document the world around him. Inspired by the three A’s—Ansel Adams, Diane Arbus, and Annie Leibovitz—he developed a keen eye early on. By the early 1970s, his work had already earned national recognition and numerous awards. Blumenfeld later studied photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where one of his works remains in the permanent collection.

In the mid-1970s, Blumenfeld created a series documenting drag performers in Chicago, San Francisco, and Minneapolis. Long unpublished, that work forms the basis of Thru the Mirror: The Unfinished Project, 1976–1980.

He later founded Smart Alex, a greeting card company known for its distinctive humor and design, which earned six Louie Awards, the highest honor in the greeting card industry. After nearly four decades of entertaining the public with a sharp sense of humor, Blumenfeld retired and returned to his first love: photography.

Press Coverage:

​2025    You Have to See This

2008    The Anti-Hallmark

 

Awards:

​1989–1996: Six Louie Awards (the ‘Academy Awards’ of the greeting card industry).

•  New Baby

• Jewish Seasonal

• Christmas

• Christmas Humorous

• Birthday Humorous

• Valentine's Day Humorous

 

Minnesota Professional Photographers Association:

​1974    4 Gold Seal Print Ribbons

1974    Loan Collection

1974    Sam Ellertson Award

​

1973    American Society of Photographers - Honor recognition in growth of creativity

1973    Permanent Collection in Rochester Institute of Technology

1972    Photography Black/White Honor Award by Eastman Kodak /Scholastic Magazine

1972    Photography Color Honor Award by Eastman Kodak /Scholastic Magazine

1972    1st Place National Photo Award by Seventeen Magazine

​