Jonas Wood
American
Born 1977
The works of Jonas Wood are as unique as they are powerful. It is easy to pick out a Jonas Wood even from across a crowded gallery or museum space, and that is no doubt part of the appeal.
Primarily known for his painting and his works on paper, Jonas Wood uses a number of different techniques to evoke strong emotions and elicit powerful reactions in his viewers. His works are distinguished by their overlapping textures, utilizing a number of materials and bringing together disparate sections to create a powerful and overarching whole.
The works that Jonas Wood creates are also known for their unique and at times disorienting use of space. This compression of space is a hallmark of Jonas Wood and his work, and his paintings combine intimate settings with big ideas.
Jonas Wood has been compared to contemporary artists like Hockney and Matisse, and these forebears figure prominently in his work. Jonas Wood uses intimate settings and familiar objects to create a sense of safety. At the same time, his use of distorted shadows and three-dimensional viewing allow him to create a vision that is entirely his own. Simply put, the works of Jonas Wood look like nothing else, and that is what his fans love about them.
Jonas Wood may be best known for his painting and drawing, but he has also found great success in a number of other formats. Most notably, Jonas Wood has created stunning collages that combine traditional painting on canvas with a variety of found objects and smaller pieces. These collages are among his most popular works with collectors, and they can be found in high-end galleries and major museums throughout the country and around the world.
Many fans and critics have used the word lush to describe the works of Jonas Wood, and it is easy to see why. A typical example of his work shows a number of stunning painted vases and other vessels, all set against a neutral backdrop. His works also incorporate rich vibrant colors, from the green of a golf course to the rich blues of a coral reef and the fish who call it home.
A classically educated painter and artist, Jonas Wood was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1977. He would later move to New York, where he graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 1999. He later went on to earn his MFA from the University of Washington at Seattle, graduating in 2002.
After his formal training was completed, Jonas Wood began to pursue his artistic passions in earnest, gaining notoriety through a number of collaborative and solo exhibitions. Throughout the years, his work has been exhibited at the Wexner Center for the Arts, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, the Hotel de Miramion in Paris, France and the Lever House in New York.
In addition to those solo and collaborative exhibitions, Jonas Wood has also enjoyed great success among collectors. His works are part of a number of notable permanent collections, from private homes to major museums and galleries. Some of his paintings can be seen at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, the Saatchi Gallery in London, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles and the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City.
Jonas Wood has already enjoyed great success as a painter and conceptual artist, but he shows no signs of slowing down and no desire to rest on his laurels. After many years of success in the art world, Jonas Wood continues to create works of unparalleled beauty and surpassing vision.
After living and working in many places around the world, Jonas Wood now makes his home in Los Angeles, California, drawing on the unique landscape of the West Coast to create works that are powerful, evocative and unforgettable.
Jonas Wood also continues to influence the next generation of artists, and over the years he has become an integral part of the West Coast art scene. Los Angeles has really come into its own in recent years, aided by the vision of artists like Jonas Wood and his contemporaries. From his earliest influences in childhood to his great success as a painter, Jonas Wood has helped the West Coast art world move forward, gaining fans, pleasing collectors and creating works that stand the test of time.
Jonas Wood Schindler Apts, 2013 Oil and acrylic on canvas 132 x 112 inches
Jonas Wood Bullets (Mini), 2007 gouache and colored pencil on paper 30 x 22 1/2 inches
Jonas Wood Untitled (Red and Black), 2009 Oil on linen 66 x 43 inches
Jonas Wood Hitman 5 Belts, 2012 Gouache and colored pencil on paper 40 x 28 inches
Jonas Wood Two Tables with Floral Pattern, 2013 Oil and acrylic on canvas 100 × 93 inches
Jonas Wood Wimbledon M, 2013 Oil and acrylic on linen 62 × 50 inches