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Mary Jones is a NYC based artist best known for abstract paintings and works on paper combining gestural brushwork with collage elements. The artwork references the body in experimental ways. Jones has recently been exploring interior design as a “set,” where luxurious, empty rooms appear ghostly with history, habitation, and implications of cultural critique. She utilizes the way in which evocation can be felt through absence. Also known for the integration of X-rays into her work, Jones presents the transparency of our bodies through medical imaging–a process of contemporary life that we all undergo–a confrontation with mortality, as well as a site of surreal beauty and invasive surveillance.
Born in Granite Falls, N.C., Jones received a BFA and MFA from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She has shown her work in galleries and museums internationally, most recently at High Noon Gallery in NYC in 2023, where she is currently represented. Her work has been reviewed in The Brooklyn Rail, Whitehot Magazine, NY Times, LA TImes, Art in America, Artforum, and Artnews among others. She began her career in Los Angeles and is included in the book, “L.A.Rising, SoCal Artists Before 1980,” by Lyn Kienholz. Jones is a Senior Critic at RISD, where she has taught since 1998, and an instructor at SVA since 2009. As an art writer, she has contributed to The Brooklyn Rail, bombmagazine.org, and artcritical.com, writing reviews and interviewing artists about their work and process.
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Writing about painting in a New Yorker review, critic Peter Schjeldahl says, “No other medium can as yet so directly combine vision and touch to express what it’s like to have a particular mind, with its singular troubles and glories, in a particular body.”
This seems especially relevant to me.
I rely on process and layering to invite a psychological reading, at the edge of my control, that haptically connects to a shared consciousness. My paintings find fragments of recognizable form through an intuitive process of layered abstraction. They’re heavily worked and, along with courting improvisation and spontaneity, I’ve begun to embrace metaphors of the body and my own biography as part of the content. It’s a physical process which reinforces a bodily connection; scraping, sanding, collage, industrial spray paint and house paint rollers are all utilized, embedding the motions, ghosts, construction and destruction that each painting undergoes as part of the facture. And then there are the X-rays, mounted onto the surface of the paintings, they function as both masks and portraits, making the obvious connections to medical imaging, surveillance and mortality
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MFA, BFA University of Colorado, Boulder
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2023 “Les Problémes du Confort,” High Noon Gallery, NYC
2022 “Interior Design Part I,” Onward, Steffany Martz, NYC
2022 “Body Transfer, SVA Flatiron Gallery (with Ariane Lopez-Huici)
2020 “Attachments,” High Noon Gallery, NYC
2019 “Travel Light,”High Noon Gallery, NYC
2017 “Conversation,” Hudson Guild Gallery, (with Denise Adler)
2016 John Molloy Gallery, NYC
2013 Studio 7D, NYC
2012 “Floating Explosions” The George Gallery, Laguna Beach, Ca. (with Bobbie Oliver)
2008 Jancar Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2006 Jancar Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2006 Robert Green Fine Arts, Mill Valley, CA
2005 Cenci Gallery, Rome, Italy
2004 Jeffrey Coploff Fine Art, NYC
2003 Robert Green Fine Arts, Mill Valley, CA
2002 “Bower of Bliss” Cynthia Broan, NYC (with Mary Beth Gregg)
2001 Jeffrey Coploff Fine Art, NYC
2001 Robert Green Fine Arts, Mill Valley, CA
2000 Jeffrey Coploff Fine Art, NYC
1995 Bill Maynes Gallery, NYC
1993 Tom Cugliani Gallery, NYC
Ovsey Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. 1989, 1988, 1986, 1985, 1983
1989 Hanes Art Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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2022 Bodies Odors Trauma Disease, Olfactory Art Keller Gallery, NYC
2021 Faculty Biennial, RISD Museum, Providence, R. I.
2019 “Divine Intervention,” curated by Teri Hackett, Christ Episcopal Church, Sag Harbor, NY
2019 “Incise, Echo and Repeat,” curated by Camilia Fallon and Kylie Heidenheimer, NYC
2018 “Music for your Ears,” OCCCA, Newport, Ca., curated by Peter Frank
2018 “3 Days at Custom Cabinets,” LA, Ca.
2017 “Friends of the Gallery,” Mitchell Algus Gallery, NYC
2017 “Painted Desert,” High Noon Gallery, NYC
2017 “Alternative Facts,” Pleiades Gallery, NYC, curated by Denise Adler
2017 “Holding it Together,” Brooklyn, NY, curated by Teri Hackett
2016 “Future Past Perfect,” Ms Barbers, Los Angeles,Ca., curated by Lauren Comito
2015 “Future Past Perfect,” Projekt 722, Brooklyn, NY, curated by Lauren Comito
2015 “Repose”, 184 Hall St., Brooklyn, NY, curated by Hovey Brock
2015 “Figuring Abstraction,” Westbeth Gallery, NYC, curated by Jackie Lipton and Olivia Beens
2015 “Phase III”, Mammal Gallery, Atlanta, Ga.
2014 “Cultural Guerrillas”, Hudson Guild, NYC, curated by Denise Adler
2014 “Nature Doesn’t Knock”, The George Gallery, Laguna Beach, Ca.
2013 “Flux/Quirk”, The George Gallery, Laguna Beach, Ca.
2013 “Eleven@7D”, studio 7D, Curated by Allen Furbeck, NYC
2013 “Between the Two: Six Artists from New York”, The George Gallery, Laguna Beach, Ca.
2012 “Little Languages, Coded Pictures” Kathryn Markel Fine Arts, NYC
2011 “Haywire”, Storefront, Brooklyn, NY
2011 “Paper A-Z Sue Scott Gallery, NYC
2010 “Neo-Vitruvian: the body now”, curated by Richard J. Goldstein, Hal Bromm Gallery, NYC
2009 “Williams Studio Art Faculty Exhibition,” Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Ma.
2008 “Works on Paper”, Michael Steinberg Fine Art, NYC
2007 “Diving in the Decadent Ditch of Des Esseintes,” NYC, curated by Marilla Palmer
2007 “Dutch Barn Show” Clinton Corners, N.Y.
2003 “timelines,” Signal 66, Wash. D.C.
2002 “Landscape,” Lindsey Brown, NYC
2001 “Four Painters,” Lindsey Brown, NYC
2001 “Works on Paper,” Jeffrey Coploff Fine Art, NYC
2000 “Group Show,” Jeffrey Coploff Fine Art, NYC
2000 “Le Salon,” London, England
1999 “Immediacies of the Hand,” Hunter College, NYC
1998 “Baroque Geometry,” Marlborough Chelsea NYC
1998 Jeffrey Coploff Fine Art, NYC
1998 "485.73482 Cycles per/sec," 76 Varick, NYC
1997 “Summer Invitational,” Steffany Martz, NYC
1997 "Push," 450 B'way Gallery, NYC
1997 "Stellar Spectra," Mary Barone, NYC
1997 "The Enduring Presence," Roland Gibson Gallery, SUNY, Potsdam, NY
1996 "The Enduring Presence," Ewing Gallery, U. Of Tenn., Knoxville
1995 Group show, Kasmin Gallery, NYC
1994 "Small Abstract Painting," Bill Maynes Gallery, NYC
1992 "Shape Shifters," Amy Lipton Gallery, NYC
1989 Jayne H. Baum Gallery, New York City, NY
1986 "24 X 24 X 24" Ruth Siegel Gallery, NYC, NY
1986 "Abstract Painting" The Pyramid Club, NYC, NY
1985 "California Directions in Painting" Visual Arts Center of Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska. Traveled to Alaska State Museum, Juneau, Alaska
1985 “16 X 26”, Quint Gallery, San Diego, Ca.
1983 “Directions 1983” Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.
1983 “Between the Freeways: The New Art of Downtown Los Angeles”, Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, Ca.
1982 “In and Around Little Tokyo” Japanese American Community and Cultural Center, Los Angeles, Ca.
1981 “Between the Freeways: The New Art of Downtown LA”, Madison Art Center, Madison, Wisconsin
1981 “Elegant Night”, Security Pacific Bank Plaza, Los Angeles, Ca.
1980 “Downtown LA in Santa Barbara”, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, Ca.
1980 “On and Off Broadway”, LACE Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca., curated by John Baldessari
1979 “Second Biennial”, ARCo Center for Visual Art, Los Angeles, Ca.
1979 “The Animal Show”, LACE Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca. curated by Mary Jones
1979 “Double X in Depth”, The Woman’s Building, Los Angeles, Ca.
1978 “Downtown Artists”, LACE Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca.
1978 “Sculpture in Los Angeles Since 1978”, Gallery 405 E. 4th St. Los Angeles, Ca.
1978 “Group Show” Gallery 405 E. 4th St. Los Angeles, Ca
1978 “Double X Plus”, LACE Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca
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The Broad Art Foundation, Los Angeles
George and Betty Woodman, NYC
John Guest Ltd. (London)
Security Pacific Bank, Los Angeles
Celebrity Cruises art collection
Prudential Life
Wells Fargo Bank
The Carnation Company
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McGlynn, Tom, Mary Jones: Les Problémes du Confort https://brooklynrail.org/2023/04/artseen/Mary-Jones-Les-Problmes-du-Confort
Woolbright, Andrew Paul, “A Scan Through The Canon: Mary Jones’ Attachments at High Noon Gallery, https://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/attachments-at-high-noon-gallery/4752
Brock, Hovey, “Attachments,” https://brooklynrail.org/2020/11/artseen/Mary-Jones-Attachments
Trauring, Michelle, “Divine Intervention Transforms Christ Church in Sag Harbor,” www.sagharborexpress.com June 4, 2019
Chambers, Christopher Hart, “Travel Light,” www.dartmagazine.com February, 09, 2019
Cohen, David, “Mary Jones: Travel Light at High Noon https://list.artcritical.com/features/020719
Travel Light: Mary Jones at High Noon, NY Art Beat:
http://ffffffwalls.com/2012/11/mary-jones-chelsea/ Mary-Jones-Chelsea
Goldner, Liz, “Nature Doesn’t Knock”, http://artscenecal.com/archive/810-qnature-doesnt-knockq
Frank, Peter, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/02/haiku-reviews-_n_2397584.html 1/02/2013
Chapline, Jonathan, http://ffffffwalls.com/2012/11/mary-jones-chelsea/ Mary-Jones-Chelsea
Estenger, Max, http://maxestenger.blogspot.com/2012/05/in-studio-with-mary-jones.html. In The Studio with Mary Jones, May 26, 2012
Kienholz, Lyn. “L.A. Rising: SoCal Artists before 1980,” The California/International Arts Foundation 2010
Mallinson, Constance. Art in America, review, May 2007
Frank, Peter. “Addition/Reduction,” Mary Jones LA Weekly Wed. January 10, 2007
Chang, Richard. ARTnews, review, June 2007
Pagel, David. Los Angeles Times, Friday, Dec. 22, December 2006
Jashinsky, Judy. “timelines,” catalogue, 2003
Garwood, Deborah. “Bower of Bliss,” catalogue, 2002
Yablonsky, Linda. “Mary Jones,” catalogue, 2002
Bourbon, Matthew. NY Arts, “Mary Jones,” review, Feb. 2000
Sheets, Hilarie M. ARTnews, “Mary Jones,” review, June, 2000
Johnson, Ken. NY Times, “Baroque Geometry,” Friday, Jan. 8, 1999
Cotter, Holland . NY Times, “Immediacies of the Hand,” Friday, April 9, 1999
Smith, Roberta. NY Times, "Hothouse" review, Friday, Sept. 6, 1996
Drier, Deborah. "Vision At Sea," catalogue, 1996
Barrett, Chris. "Happy Chaos," Metro Pulse (Tennessee) 1996
Mills, Dan. "The Enduring Presence," catalogue, 1996
Hirsch, Faye. “Mary Jones: Color Sense,” catalogue, 1995
Saltz, Jerry. Art in America, "A Year in the Life" Oct. 1994
Smith, Roberta. New York Times, "Review" Friday, Dec. 10, 1993
Frank, Peter. LA Weekly, "Art Pick of the Week" Friday, Dec. 8, 1989
Curtis,Cathy. Los Angeles Times, Calendar Galleries Friday, Nov. 24, 1989
Pincus, Robert L. Art in America, "Mary Jones At Ovsey" Sept. 1988
Donahue, Marlene. Los Angeles Times, Friday, Feb. 26, 1988, Part IV
McKenna, Kristine. Los Angeles Times, Friday, Sept. 26, 1986 Part IV
McCloud, Janet. ARTWEEK, "An Integration of Opposites," March 9, 1985
Muchnic, Suzanne. Los Angeles Times, Friday, March 1, 1985 Part IV
Pincus, Robert L. Los Angeles Times, Friday, Oct. 21, 1985
Christenberry, William. ARTFORUM, "Directions, 1983" Oct. 1983
Silverthorne, Jeanne. ARTFORUM, Oct. 1983
Ashbery, John. Newsweek, "Biennials Bloom In The Spring
Fleming, Lee. Images & Issues, "What's At Issue Is The Issue" Sept/Oct 1983
Knight, Christopher. Los Angeles Herald Examiner, "California Living-Art Inc."
Drohojowska, Hunter. Los Angeles Herald Examiner, "Making Art In The M-Zone", June 20, 1982
Knight, Christopher. Los Angeles Herald Examiner, "Mary Jones: Art That Runs Silent, Runs Deep,” April 11, 1982
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Kienholz, Lyn. “L.A. Rising: SoCal Artists before 1980,” The
California/International Arts Foundation, 2010
Neher, Ross. “Blindfolding the Muse: The Plight of Painting in the Age of Conceptual Art,” Prenom Press, New York, NY, 1999.
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2023-1998 Senior Critic, Rhode Island School of Design
2023-2009 Instructor, School of Visual Arts, NYC
2012, and 2003, nominated for the John R. Frazier Award for Excellence in Teaching, RISD
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“Video Games and Art, 2013, RISD, Providence, R.I.
“Your Portrait in Oils,” 2009, Michael Steinberg Fine Art, NYC
"SLAD," 1997, (with Janice Krasnow) Apex Gallery, NYC
"Salon des Tree," 1997, 1996, (with Austin Ackles), Central Park, NYC
"Swag & Puddle," 1996 (with Janice Krasnow) The Workspace, NYC
"Pleasant Pebble," 1995 (with Janice Krasnow) The Workspace, NYC
"Selected Sheets," 1991, 4 Walls, Brooklyn.
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Katy Crowe: A Wrinkle in the Macula
https://brooklynrail.org/2022/09/artseen/Katy-Crowe-A-Wrinkle-in-the-Macula
Nancy Evans: Moonshadow
https://brooklynrail.org/2022/05/artseen/Nancy-Evans-Moonshadow
Takako Yamaguchi: “7 + 7”
https://brooklynrail.org/2021/11/artseen/Takako-Yamaguchi-7-7
A Tribute to Alain Kirili
https://brooklynrail.org/2021/11/in-memoriam/A-Tribute-to-Alain-Kirili
Taney Roniger/ Never the Same River https://brooklynrail.org/2020/10/artseen/Taney-Roniger-Never-The-Same-River
Lightness of Being: Alain Kirili discusses his new work with Mary Jones
http://www.artcritical.com/2018/12/27/mary-jones-with-alain-kirili/
Sliding Away into Space: Barbara Takenaga at DC Moore
http://www.artcritical.com/2018/09/27/mary-jones-on-barbara-takenaga/
A Multifaceted Career: Raul Guerrero talks with Mary Jones
www.artcritical.com/2018/07/03/raul-guerrero-with-mary-jones/
X-Ray Vision: Mary Jones discusses her work with Brenda Zlamany http://www.artcritical.com/2016/11/15/x-ray-vision-mary-jones-discusses-work-brenda-zlamany/
“An Autobiography of a Garden: Andrew Raftery in Conversation with Mary Jones
http://www.artcritical.com/2016/09/10/mary-jones-with-andrew-raftery/
“Brainbow: Sarah Walker in conversation with Mary Jones”
http://www.artcritical.com/2016/09/25/mary-jones-with-sarah-walker/
“I Paint Myself Out of the Paintings”: A Studio Visit with David Rhodes
www.artcritical.com/2016/06/21/david-rhodes-with-mary-jones/
“A Portrait a Day, and Back in the Day,” an interview with Brenda Zlamany
www.artcritical.com/2015/12/14/brenda-zlamany-with-mary-jones/
“Maren Hassinger” by Mary Jones
http://bombmagazine.org/article/0829120/maren-hassinger Feb. 23rd, 2015
“Amy Feldman by Mary Jones”, http://bombmagazine.org/article/1000182/amy-feldman June 26, 2014
“I Will Be Who” Interview with Barbara T. Smith, https://bombmagazine.org/articles/i-will-be-who/ Dec. 7th,2012
“Dream Catcher: Mira Schor”, Interview with Mira Schor, June 19th, 2012 https://bombmagazine.org/articles/dream-catcher-mira-schor/
“Switzerland for Movie Stars”, Interview with Kanishka Raja, https://bombmagazine.org/articles/post-impressions-switzerland-for-movie-stars/ March 9th, 2012
“Regifting”, Interview with Whitney Claflin, https://bombmagazine.org/articles/post-impressions-regifting/ Oct. 18th, 2011
“The Mountain”, Interview with Marc Handelman July 27, 2011 https://bombmagazine.org/articles/post-impressions-the-mountain/
“The Enlightenment”, Interview with Aaron Gilbert. https://bombmagazine.org/articles/post-impressions-the-enlightenment/ March 9. 2011
Joan Waltemath, Interview with Joan Waltemath, https://bombmagazine.org/articles/joan-waltemath/ Sept 28th, 2010
“Klaus Could Never Do This”, Interview with Rob Hult and Sam Wilson, June 4th, 2010 https://bombmagazine.org/articles/klaus-could-never-do-this/
“It Helps to Have a Crazy Family”, Interview with Rebeca Raney, Nov. 24th, 2009
https://bombmagazine.org/articles/post-impressions-it-helps-to-have-a-crazy-family/
“Berlin Calling: Alexis Knowlton”, Interview with Alexis Knowlton, Sept. 2nd, 2009
https://bombmagazine.org/articles/berlin-calling-alexis-knowlton/
“What Color is Your Fire?”, Interview with William Miller, June 11th, 2009 https://bombmagazine.org/articles/post-impressions-what-color-is-your-fire/
“The Optimism of Observation”, Interview with Julian Kreimer, May 7th 2009 https://bombmagazine.org/articles/post-impressions-the-optimism-of-observation/