Meet Jonathan Kent Adams.
Through his drawings and paintings, the Mississippi-based artist uses his work to explore many themes and motifs, the likes of which include sexuality, spirituality, and his place within his art. Adams' work encourages reflection and self-discovery amid "traditions that often deny the outsider's existence."
"I make my art as a way of processing what it means for me to be human here," Adams said in a statement. "I see patterns of me embracing and deconstructing the spiritual myths and traditions that are a part of my life, especially in a time where we are so disconnected. I am interested in the spaces of possibility for connection. Over the past few years, nature has been a place where I feel free and connected. We have created institutions and new technologies that are supposed to create social bonds, but time and time again these structures are exposed as soul distractors. They divide us and often unite the worst in us. I don't have answers or solutions, but my art is a space where I am trying to explore what this means to me. I do not think I am fully seeing in my art what I am trying to communicate. I have glimpses of breakthrough, and I think more will come if I keep showing up."
Some of Adam's recent and upcoming exhibitions of work include Maybe, The Bridegroom Waits For Me, which took place at the Southside Gallery in Oxford, MS in March 2022; Open Studio at the Water Valley Art Crawl, which is taking place on September 17 in Water Valley, MS; and Queer Aesthetics at Mississippi University for Women, which is taking place in Fall 2022 in Columbus, MS.
Scroll through to see more of Adams' work. And for more on Adams, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and check out his official website!
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Afternoon
8x10 inches; ink on paper
Spring 8
Reappearing
June Blake 2
Spread
37x49 inches; charcoal and India ink on arches watercolor paper
Ripe Study
8x10 inches; ink on paper
Trinity
30x40 inches; charcoal and India ink on arches watercolor paper
Blake For Christmas
8x10 inches; ink on paper
Figure Study
18x24 inches; ink on watercolor paper
Figure Study 11
18x24 inches; ink on watercolor paper
Osiel
18x24 inches; ink on watercolor paper
Blake In Love
18x24 inches; ink on watercolor paper
Surrender
42x54 inches; charcoal and India ink on arches watercolor paper
Locks
40x50 inches; charcoal and India ink on arches watercolor paper
Dishes
8x10 inches; ink on paper
A Lover's Commission
18x24 inches; ink on watercolor paper
Relaxed
18x24 inches; ink on watercolor paper
Still
18x24 inches; ink on watercolor paper
Lil Nas X
8x10 inches; ink on paper
In Motion
36x40 inches; charcoal and ink on arches watercolor paper
Falling Into
16x20 inches; charcoal and India ink on arches watercolor paper
Lovers Dance Still
8x10 inches; ink on paper
Tight
18x24 inches; ink on watercolor paper
Up
18x24 inches; ink on watercolor paper
Strong
18x24 inches; ink on watercolor paper
June Self 6
Bran At Home
8x10 inches; ink on paper
Tangle
42x54 inches; charcoal and India ink on arches watercolor paper
Blake In OBX
8x10 inches; ink on paper
Blake At Night
Self Exaggeration
Fur
18x24 inches; ink on watercolor paper
June Self 5
18x24 inches; ink on watercolor paper
Rotation
40x50 inches; charcoal and India ink on arches watercolor paper
Central Park
8x10 inches; ink on paper
Slide Away
18x24 inches; ink on watercolor paper
Figure Study
18x24 inches; ink on watercolor paper
June Self 3
18x24 inches; ink on watercolor paper
Lovers Dance Still 2
8x10 inches; ink on paper
Isolation
16x20 inches; charcoal and India ink on arches watercolor paper
Lost In Space
42x60 inches; charcoal and India ink on arches watercolor paper
In The Studio
8x10 inches; ink on paper
My Love
18x24 inches; ink on watercolor paper
