About

ABOUT Dennis Jones

Dennis Jones is a multi-talented individual who encompasses the roles of visual artist, educator, landscaper/gardner, and architect, each of which significantly influences his work. His introduction to the use of a bidet occurred while he was extremely ill in the shanty town of Hurghada, Egypt. Additionally, he engaged in a game of 'Jenga' with prostitutes in Phuket, Thailand. Notably, Jones embarked on an impressive feat by hiking down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon from the North Rim and back in just twelve hours. Another remarkable aspect of his life are his visits to fifty US National Parks.

As an artist, Jones finds inspiration in the integration of material, process, and expression. He believes in conveying the truth of emotion and visually communicating his thoughts, which serve as the driving force behind his artistic endeavors. He purposefully avoids adopting a stagnant "signature style" as he considers it uninteresting, creatively limiting, and driven by market demands. Instead, he explores how method and expression intertwine to form a conceptual foundation, resulting in a diverse and risk-taking approach to his work. While a casual observer might perceive his extensive output as lacking focus, a deeper examination reveals his unwavering authenticity and willingness to allow his work to evolve organically. Throughout his artistic journey, the presence of the figure, whether implied or directly visible, has consistently played a role in his creations. This trajectory has led him from his early interest in figurative and cartoon-like imagery showcased in his work "Toyland" (2006) to his exploration of text-based art from 2007 to 2013, followed by a subsequent influence of abstraction from 2012 to 2018. Currently, his body of work combines abstraction and figuration, resulting in ethereal and otherworldly paintings on canvas titled "Rare and Precious Things."

Jones has an impressive exhibition history, having participated in over seventy solo and group shows spanning local, national, and international venues. His creative output extends beyond traditional mediums and encompasses paintings, sculptures, drawings, installations, videos, photos, books, and even teaching and residential architecture. In 2022, he presented a pointed political body of work titled "New Minority" at Galerie Camille in Detroit. His artwork was featured in the Fall 2022 issue of "Caustic Frolic," a publication by The Graduate School of Experimental Social and Humanistic Studies at New York University. Furthermore, his work was selected for inclusion in the New American Paintings 2019 Midwest Competition Publication, which was juried by Staci Boris, the Associate Director of Exhibitions at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Notable exhibitions include a solo show at the University of Michigan from September to December 2018, as well as his curation of the exhibition "SIX" at The Janice Charach Gallery in January 2018, featuring the work of six Detroit artists.

Jones's artwork has been showcased in esteemed venues such as The OK Harris Gallery and Galerie Protege in New York, Oo Gallery in Kingston, NY, The Mary Washington Galleries at Mary Washington University in Fredericksburg, Maryland, The Kraft Lieberman Gallery in Chicago, The Drift Gallery in Portsmouth, NH, The Project Room in Lincoln, NE, The Art Gallery of Windsor and Artcite in Windsor, Canada, The Thames Gallery in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, The Kenderdine Art Gallery at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatchewan, Canada, Definitely Superior Gallery in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, Gallery Lambton in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, WKP Kennedy and The Woodstock Gallery in Ontario, Canada, The Robert Kidd Gallery in Birmingham, MI, Oakland University Art Gallery in Rochester Hills, MI, Janice Charach Gallery in West Bloomfield, MI, Grand Rapids ArtPrize, Elaine L. Jacob Gallery, The College for Creative Studies Center Galleries, The Detroit Artist Market, Zeitgeist Gallery, Concordia College Gallery, Ann Arbor Art Center, and The Gallery Project in Ann Arbor, MI.

In summary, Dennis Jones is a versatile artist who combines his skills as an architect, educator, and visual artist to create thought-provoking and diverse works. He embraces the integration of material, process, and expression, allowing his artwork to evolve without being constrained by a signature style. With an extensive exhibition history and a focus on exploring the intersection of abstraction and figuration in his current body of work, Jones continues to push artistic boundaries and captivate audiences worldwide.