ABOUT
Todd Jones is a visual artist and professor based in Raleigh, North Carolina. He currently works as an Assistant Professor and Gallery Director at the Art Department at Meredith College. Originally from Tallahassee in Florida, Todd earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree, with a double major in Studio Art and Psychology from Florida State University. He further obtained a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Studio Art, concentrating in Painting + Drawing, and a Graduate Certificate in Visual Arts Management from Ohio University.
Todd's artistic practice is entwined with environmental consciousness and sustainability. He creates sculptural paintings that utilize discarded and mistint house paint sourced from the local community. Todd engages in material explorations and experimental art-making processes by creating works at the intersection of domesticity, consumerism, and geological processes. His art embodies a connection with nature and the complexities of human impact on the environment.
As a professor, he facilitates learning through active observation, experimentation, and critique. He actively encourages creativity in the classroom through conceptual thinking and materials, aiming to improve conceptual development, technical, and professional skills. He believes that art advances the development of learning about ourselves and those around us. He likewise believes creative problem-solving is necessary to navigate our constantly changing environment, and creativity could be applied in every facet of the professional world.
Todd was an artist-in-residence at several well-known creative arts centers, such as Wildacres in Little Switzerland, North Carolina; The Hambidge Center in Rabun Gap, Georgia; and Studio 209 in Thomasville, Georgia. He attended the Summer Painting and Sculpture Intensive at the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His work has earned recognitions, including being a Finalist for the 2022 William and Dorothy Yeck Award from the Miami University's Young Painters Competition; and a Finalist at the Fifth Edition of the Boynes Emerging Artist Award. His art has been exhibited nationwide, with solo exhibitions at Gallery 406 at Elon University in Elon, North Carolina; 621 Gallery in Tallahassee, Florida; Trisolini Gallery at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio; and The City Center Gallery at the Urban Arts Space in Columbus, Ohio.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Through my artwork, I mold together memories and waste generated by our ever-changing, consumer-driven economy. Inspired by archeological practices such as excavation, collection, and curation, I transform discarded materials into paint sculptures. These works promote sustainability and positively influence our contemporary consumerist values.
In my practice, I work with discarded and mistint house paints sourced from households and landfills. Mistint house paints are products of unsatisfied consumers because of incorrect color choices or finishes. I intercept these paints before they end up in landfills to give them a new purpose. These materials symbolize our culture's fascination with identity and attention, reflecting the psychological dynamics of shifting consumer desires.
Through my artistic process, I transform salvaged paints into stratified sculptures that hint at their prior purpose. This process involves repeatedly pouring and drying layers of paint, resulting in slabs or "paint skins." I then intuitively manipulate and carve these forms, drawing inspiration from natural geological formations and everyday household objects. The shavings from the carving process are repurposed, often cast in resin using molds of discarded household objects.
Domestic spaces and antiquated household objects such as candelabras and ornate picture frames serve as my creative muses. I reshape these objects using sustainable materials, capturing their invisible memories in new artistic forms. These transformations not only give discarded paints a new life as visual records of historical color usage but also reflect the evolving mindset of consumers and provide an archeological perspective on everyday household objects.
My artworks are deeply influenced by contemporary society's pervasive consumerism. I aim to incite viewers to critically reflect upon their relationship with material possessions. I am committed to continuously delving into the intricate connections between consumption, domesticity, and the impact these have on our environment. Through my work, I experiment with scale and materials to create pieces that challenge our consumer behaviors and inspire viewers.