Inside the Studio with Jon Key

Jon Key

Artist, Writer and Designer

Ever since I can remember I’ve been painting self-portraits. I think because I was a twin I’ve always been interested in figuring out ways, like… What are the differences between my twin and I? What are my stories? Who am I? and then those questions became more specific, like…What does it mean to be a Black artist? What does it mean to be an artist from Alabama? What does it mean to be a Queer artist? And it really was this process of writing that birthed these four pillars that I care about: Southerness, Blackness, Queerness, and Family. So those four themes really is what grounds my work, which I translated into four colors: violet for Queerness, black for Blackness, red for Family and green for Southerness.

When I started painting in New York City it was right after the Pulse Orlando nightclub shooting that happened at a Queer club. That particular night the place was filled with Brown people and Black people, so that easily could have been me, that easily could have been any of my friends, and I started thinking about… What does it mean to take up space as a Queer Black person? What does it mean to take up space and claim it as safe and your own? What does it mean to be a Queer Black person? When can I feel safe?

Screen Shot 2020-07-13 at 12.29.14 PM.png — So I started constructing this mythology around this man in a violet suit to answer all these questions. One of the things that kind of stuck through all of these paintings is the stare back into the viewer who is looking at the painting; it really speaks to my character’s humanity and his agency, even though he may be seemed as being forced or contorted into these uncomfortable positions. But from that he moves to exploring what does it mean to take off the suit, exploring the world, seeing himself in the world and finding these moments of self-care and love.

All of these paintings are inspired by me, I refer to them as self-portraits but they are also definitely not me. I think there is an extension of these characters that is me, but I like that he can be anybody else. I like that people can see themselves in these paintings and constantly add their own meanings and messages to them. To me a really important thing as an artist is to create work that clearly articulates your point, but also allows people to add their own meanings and messages.

I love that there are so many spaces now for Black Queer artists to tell all of these different stories. It just recognizes that we are all very different and that we are all ver very valid and inspiring.