Neo-Digital Baroque: How Jonathon Downing is Redefining the Portrait
In the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary art, Jonathon Downing emerges as a provocative voice, challenging the boundaries between digital and traditional media, pop culture and high art.
"My process is a dialogue between the digital and the physical," Downing explains. "It's about taking the infinite possibilities of digital manipulation and translating them into the tactile, permanent medium of oil paint."
Born in 1997, this Michigan-based artist is rapidly carving out a unique niche in the art world with his innovative approach to portraiture that seamlessly blends digital manipulation with classical oil painting techniques.
Jonathon Downing: Blue Slide Park -> Buzzcut Season -> Chlorine -> Courtside Seats | Image Courtesy of the Artist
The Digital Native's Brush
Downing's work is a testament to the digital age, reflecting a generation that has grown up with the internet, social media, and the constant flux of digital imagery.
Jonathon Downing proudly in front of his artwork, offering a glimpse into his studio where he is passionately working on new paintings | Photos by the Artist
His process begins in the virtual realm, where he meticulously crafts digital photo montages, layering and manipulating images to create surreal, composite figures.
These digital constructs then serve as the foundation for his oil paintings, resulting in works that are simultaneously hyper-real and fantastical.
Deconstructing Identity in the Age of Social Media
At the heart of Downing's work lies a profound exploration of identity in the digital age.
Jonathon Downing: (left) The painting "Lead Guitar" was on view at V Lab Gallery as part of Jonathon Downing's solo show "Appearances, Aspirations, and Allusions" until May 4th. This piece captures the childhood aspirations of a creative person, portraying a character in a button-up shirt and glasses lacing up his sneakers for a run in the park. The character gazes into the unknown, displaying expressions of both awe and worry. The dreamlike quality of the painting is heightened by the extreme lighting in the background, reflecting the common fantasy of becoming a rockstar and our tendency to idolize musicians. The vibrant sneakers, made from three distinct silhouettes, symbolize the colorful personality behind the portrait. As the character transitions into adulthood, holding onto these dreams becomes more difficult, illustrated by the teddy bear dangling off the fire escape. -> (right) Jonathon Downing explains his Artwork like this: This 30" x 48" oil painting doesn't really have a deeper meaning; sometimes I just want to create an image that looks cool. The character in the painting laces up his sneakers for a post-work run in the park, even though he is still in his button-up shirt and glasses. The extreme lighting in the background creates a dreamlike atmosphere | Image Courtesy of the Artist
His monstrous amalgamations of portraiture serve as potent metaphors for the fragmented, curated selves we present online.
"In an era where everyone is constantly performing versions of themselves online, my paintings ask: what lies beneath these carefully constructed facades?" Downing asserts. His work invites viewers to look deeper, to question the authenticity of the images we consume and project.
By focusing on his love of basketball, Downing taps into a rich vein of contemporary iconography, using the sport as a lens through which to examine broader themes of celebrity, fandom, and self-image.
The New Baroque
Critics have dubbed Downing's style "Neo-Digital Baroque," noting the way his work combines the drama and grandeur of Baroque painting with contemporary digital aesthetics.
Jonathon Downing painting and description: (left) Headbanger -> (right) Holy Matrimony: This piece is Jonathon Downing’s contribution to the show “Sunlight”, which he curated with Collect Bean. Speaking on the show, Downing states: Artists and the plants that produce beans are more similar than most realize; they need soil, space, water, air, and sunlight in order to grow. Collect Bean was founded to give emerging creatives a platform to showcase their talent, personally introduce themselves to a wider audience, and grow both professionally and artistically. Teaming with one of my first supporters in Marlee Katz Snow, I have curated a collection that features some of the best young talent in the business, and I believe each of them will do great things. Every artist was chosen because of their undeniable uniqueness and rich amount of talent. They all have an original aesthetic and an original viewpoint, bringing something fresh to the table that is entirely theirs. I am beyond fortunate to have the opportunity to support this group of artists, who are pushing the visual arts forward in incredibly exciting ways. Those who came before us made the soil. Marlee has built the space. Our medium of choice is our water, and our passion is the air we breathe. That final element, the exposure that each artist needs to grow, is gifted to us by all of you. May all of the phenomenal artists in this collection flourish in the Sunlight.
Pieces like "Reach for the Sky" exemplify this approach, presenting larger-than-life figures draped in basketball jerseys, adorned with symbols of success and power.
The artist's use of classical painting techniques to render digitally manipulated subjects creates a tension between old and new, tradition and innovation.
Jonathon Downing: Stop, Drop and Roll -> Triumphant -> Witness | Image Courtesy of the Artist
This juxtaposition forces viewers to reconsider their perceptions of both classical art and contemporary digital culture.
Engaging with Contemporary Issues
While rooted in the world of basketball, Downing's work engages with broader contemporary issues.
His paintings touch on themes of race, class, and the commodification of identity in late-stage capitalism.
Jonathon Downing: 3-peat -> 10 Karat Rose Garden -> Dreaming of the Past -> Stay Mellow | Image Courtesy of the Artist
By depicting his subjects as fragmented, composite beings, he comments on the complexity of identity in a globalized, digitally connected world.
"I'm interested in how we construct our identities in a world where we're constantly bombarded with images and information," Downing notes. "How do we maintain a sense of self when we're simultaneously connected to everything and everyone?"
Breaking Down the Gallery Walls
Downing's approach to showcasing his work is as contemporary as his artistic process.
While his paintings have been exhibited in traditional galleries across the United States, Europe, and Asia, he's also embraced digital platforms to reach a wider audience.
Jonathon Dowing via Office Magazine
His active presence on Instagram and features in online publications like Hypebeast and Office Magazine have helped him build a substantial following among younger art enthusiasts.
Jonathon Downing | Burn, Baby, Burn I Wouldn't -> Trade You for The World | Image Courtesy of the Artist
This digital-first approach to art promotion reflects a broader shift in the art world, where social media increasingly plays a crucial role in an artist's success.
Downing's ability to navigate both the traditional gallery system and the digital landscape positions him as a model for the 21st-century artist.
For those interested in experiencing Downing's vision, Collect Bean is presenting "Sunlight," an upcoming virtual exhibition curated by Jonathon Downing.
The show will open on July 5 and feature a diverse lineup of artists, each bringing their unique perspectives and styles to the exhibition.
The Future of Portraiture
As Downing continues to evolve as an artist, he's pushing the boundaries of what portraiture can be in the digital age.
His recent works have begun to incorporate elements of augmented reality, allowing viewers to interact with his paintings through smartphone apps.
Jonathon Downing: Push to Start | The Motto -| Written in Stone | Young Bucks | Image Courtesy by the Artist
"I'm interested in creating portraits that aren't static, that can change and evolve just like our online identities do," Downing explains.
This fusion of traditional painting with cutting-edge technology points to exciting possibilities for the future of art.
A Voice for a New Generation
At just 27 years old, Jonathon Downing represents a new generation of artists who are redefining the parameters of contemporary art.
His work speaks to the experiences and anxieties of a generation that has come of age in a world of social media, digital manipulation, and constantly shifting identities.
Jonathon Downing on available Artsy
As the art world continues to grapple with the implications of digital technology and the changing nature of identity in the 21st century, Downing's work stands as a bold statement about the power of painting to engage with these thoroughly modern concerns.
By bridging the gap between classical technique and contemporary themes, he's creating a new visual language for the digital age.
Appearances, Aspirations and Allusions by Jonathon Downing at VLAB Gallery
In the landscape of emerging artists, Jonathon Downing is not just a rising star—he's in the vanguard of the future of portraiture, challenging us to see ourselves and our digital world in a new light.
For more insights, art practice, upcoming shows and projects follow Jonathon Downing on Instagram.
