Pinch Zoom (2020 - Present)

Description to come.

Pictura in Pictura (2016 - Present)

Portrait juxtapositions inspired by contemporary visual language.

John’s current series is called Pictura in Pictura. It is a play on words, with the the latin root word for both picture and painting. We live in a world where we are bombarded with images. Billboards overtake landscapes, we decorate our coffee tables with books, social media supplies us with image after image, all neatly orgainzed in a grid. It has come to the point where the competition for our eye is so intense that images are overlapping to be in our line of sight. “Above the fold” is no longer good enough. It is important to be placed on top. It is a visual language that we’re all accustomed to and even rely on at this point. Sometimes, though, we are surprised how well that selfie looks juxtaposed with the photo of the beach sunset. It tells a story.

Portraits don’t have to be a single image. We are conditioned to absorb multiple stimuli at once, more-so, we’re bored if we’re not. Why not make a portrait multiple images in one—sequential, like a comic book, or simultaneous like FaceTime?

New work priced $1000 - $3500 based on size/complexity.

Rapid Development (2016)

Portraits rendered in inverse reflecting the rapid technological and social development of a generation.

Statement and additional images coming soon.

Rapid Development series priced priced $1500 - $3500 based on size/complexity.

Instant Gratification (2014 - Present)

A series of life-sized drawings exploring the concepts of social media, reality, and hero worship.

I've become very active in Instagram and have, over the last year, grown a large following and made quite a few friends through the app. Through this process I've made many observations on how users (myself included) act and interact with the app and each other.

Instagram's way of micro-blogging really makes someone feel connected with the people they're following. As "insta" suggests the posts make you feel like you're in the moment with the person you're following. The interaction makes you feel like you know the person and are experiencing the moments with them. Through their image and text, you learn their expressions, tones, and emotions toward their lives.

Of course, Instagram (like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) is not reality. It is only what the author of the page wants you to see. Despite that knowledge, it's hard to ignore the feeling like you know these people, many with fantasy-like lives. I've met quite a few of my followers. While none of them are lying about their lives, it becomes very obvious their online identity is only a small portion of their life.

The title INSTANT GRATIFICATION obviously comes partially from Instagram. The drawings, all of nude/semi-nude backs, represent the illusion of being exposed. In reality, the subjects faces and identity are still hidden. We don't really know who these individuals are. We are just drawn to and get satisfaction from the reality they have shown us one post, one instant, at a time.

Shown at the Highline Loft Gallery, New York City. Opening: May 28, 2015.