• Mary Jones is a NYC based artist best known for abstract paintings and works on paper combining gestural brushwork with collage elements. The artwork references the body in experimental ways. Jones has recently been exploring interior design as a “set,” where luxurious, empty rooms appear ghostly with history, habitation, and implications of cultural critique. She utilizes the way in which evocation can be felt through absence. Also known for the integration of X-rays into her work, Jones presents the transparency of our bodies through medical imaging–a process of contemporary life that we all undergo–a confrontation with mortality, as well as a site of surreal beauty and invasive surveillance.

    Born in Granite Falls, N.C., Jones received a BFA and MFA from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She has shown her work in galleries and museums internationally, most recently at High Noon Gallery in NYC in 2023, where she is currently represented. Her work has been reviewed in The Brooklyn Rail, Whitehot Magazine, NY Times, LA TImes, Art in America, Artforum, and Artnews among others. She began her career in Los Angeles and is included in the book, “L.A.Rising, SoCal Artists Before 1980,” by Lyn Kienholz. Jones is a Senior Critic at RISD, where she has taught since 1998, and an instructor at SVA since 2009. As an art writer, she has contributed to The Brooklyn Rail, bombmagazine.org, and artcritical.com, writing reviews and interviewing artists about their work and process.

  • Writing about painting in a New Yorker review, critic Peter Schjeldahl says, “No other medium can as yet so directly combine vision and touch to express what it’s like to have a particular mind, with its singular troubles and glories, in a particular body.”

    This seems especially relevant to me.

    I rely on process and layering to invite a psychological reading, at the edge of my control, that haptically connects to a shared consciousness. My paintings find fragments of recognizable form through an intuitive process of layered abstraction. They’re heavily worked and, along with courting improvisation and spontaneity, I’ve begun to embrace metaphors of the body and my own biography as part of the content. It’s a physical process which reinforces a bodily connection; scraping, sanding, collage, industrial spray paint and house paint rollers are all utilized, embedding the motions, ghosts, construction and destruction that each painting undergoes as part of the facture. And then there are the X-rays, mounted onto the surface of the paintings, they function as both masks and portraits, making the obvious connections to medical imaging, surveillance and mortality

  • MFA, BFA University of Colorado, Boulder

  • 2023 “Les Problémes du Confort,” High Noon Gallery, NYC

    2022 “Interior Design Part I,” Onward, Steffany Martz, NYC

    2022 “Body Transfer, SVA Flatiron Gallery (with Ariane Lopez-Huici)

    2020 “Attachments,” High Noon Gallery, NYC

    2019 “Travel Light,”High Noon Gallery, NYC

    2017 “Conversation,” Hudson Guild Gallery, (with Denise Adler)

    2016 John Molloy Gallery, NYC

    2013 Studio 7D, NYC

    2012 “Floating Explosions” The George Gallery, Laguna Beach, Ca. (with Bobbie Oliver)

    2008 Jancar Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

    2006 Jancar Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

    2006 Robert Green Fine Arts, Mill Valley, CA

    2005 Cenci Gallery, Rome, Italy

    2004 Jeffrey Coploff Fine Art, NYC

    2003 Robert Green Fine Arts, Mill Valley, CA

    2002 “Bower of Bliss” Cynthia Broan, NYC (with Mary Beth Gregg)

    2001 Jeffrey Coploff Fine Art, NYC

    2001 Robert Green Fine Arts, Mill Valley, CA

    2000 Jeffrey Coploff Fine Art, NYC

    1995 Bill Maynes Gallery, NYC

    1993 Tom Cugliani Gallery, NYC

    Ovsey Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. 1989, 1988, 1986, 1985, 1983

    1989 Hanes Art Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

  • 2022 Bodies Odors Trauma Disease, Olfactory Art Keller Gallery, NYC

    2021 Faculty Biennial, RISD Museum, Providence, R. I.

    2019 “Divine Intervention,” curated by Teri Hackett, Christ Episcopal Church, Sag Harbor, NY

    2019 “Incise, Echo and Repeat,” curated by Camilia Fallon and Kylie Heidenheimer, NYC

    2018 “Music for your Ears,” OCCCA, Newport, Ca., curated by Peter Frank

    2018 “3 Days at Custom Cabinets,” LA, Ca.

    2017 “Friends of the Gallery,” Mitchell Algus Gallery, NYC

    2017 “Painted Desert,” High Noon Gallery, NYC

    2017 “Alternative Facts,” Pleiades Gallery, NYC, curated by Denise Adler

    2017 “Holding it Together,” Brooklyn, NY, curated by Teri Hackett

    2016 “Future Past Perfect,” Ms Barbers, Los Angeles,Ca., curated by Lauren Comito

    2015 “Future Past Perfect,” Projekt 722, Brooklyn, NY, curated by Lauren Comito

    2015 “Repose”, 184 Hall St., Brooklyn, NY, curated by Hovey Brock

    2015 “Figuring Abstraction,” Westbeth Gallery, NYC, curated by Jackie Lipton and Olivia Beens

    2015 “Phase III”, Mammal Gallery, Atlanta, Ga.

    2014 “Cultural Guerrillas”, Hudson Guild, NYC, curated by Denise Adler

    2014 “Nature Doesn’t Knock”, The George Gallery, Laguna Beach, Ca.

    2013 “Flux/Quirk”, The George Gallery, Laguna Beach, Ca.

    2013 “Eleven@7D”, studio 7D, Curated by Allen Furbeck, NYC

    2013 “Between the Two: Six Artists from New York”, The George Gallery, Laguna Beach, Ca.

    2012 “Little Languages, Coded Pictures” Kathryn Markel Fine Arts, NYC

    2011 “Haywire”, Storefront, Brooklyn, NY

    2011 “Paper A-Z Sue Scott Gallery, NYC

    2010 “Neo-Vitruvian: the body now”, curated by Richard J. Goldstein, Hal Bromm Gallery, NYC

    2009 “Williams Studio Art Faculty Exhibition,” Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Ma.

    2008 “Works on Paper”, Michael Steinberg Fine Art, NYC

    2007 “Diving in the Decadent Ditch of Des Esseintes,” NYC, curated by Marilla Palmer

    2007 “Dutch Barn Show” Clinton Corners, N.Y.

    2003 “timelines,” Signal 66, Wash. D.C.

    2002 “Landscape,” Lindsey Brown, NYC

    2001 “Four Painters,” Lindsey Brown, NYC

    2001 “Works on Paper,” Jeffrey Coploff Fine Art, NYC

    2000 “Group Show,” Jeffrey Coploff Fine Art, NYC

    2000 “Le Salon,” London, England

    1999 “Immediacies of the Hand,” Hunter College, NYC

    1998 “Baroque Geometry,” Marlborough Chelsea NYC

    1998 Jeffrey Coploff Fine Art, NYC

    1998 "485.73482 Cycles per/sec," 76 Varick, NYC

    1997 “Summer Invitational,” Steffany Martz, NYC

    1997 "Push," 450 B'way Gallery, NYC

    1997 "Stellar Spectra," Mary Barone, NYC

    1997 "The Enduring Presence," Roland Gibson Gallery, SUNY, Potsdam, NY

    1996 "The Enduring Presence," Ewing Gallery, U. Of Tenn., Knoxville

    1995 Group show, Kasmin Gallery, NYC

    1994 "Small Abstract Painting," Bill Maynes Gallery, NYC

    1992 "Shape Shifters," Amy Lipton Gallery, NYC

    1989 Jayne H. Baum Gallery, New York City, NY

    1986 "24 X 24 X 24" Ruth Siegel Gallery, NYC, NY

    1986 "Abstract Painting" The Pyramid Club, NYC, NY

    1985 "California Directions in Painting" Visual Arts Center of Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska. Traveled to Alaska State Museum, Juneau, Alaska

    1985 “16 X 26”, Quint Gallery, San Diego, Ca.

    1983 “Directions 1983” Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.

    1983 “Between the Freeways: The New Art of Downtown Los Angeles”, Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, Ca.

    1982 “In and Around Little Tokyo” Japanese American Community and Cultural Center, Los Angeles, Ca.

    1981 “Between the Freeways: The New Art of Downtown LA”, Madison Art Center, Madison, Wisconsin

    1981 “Elegant Night”, Security Pacific Bank Plaza, Los Angeles, Ca.

    1980 “Downtown LA in Santa Barbara”, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, Ca.

    1980 “On and Off Broadway”, LACE Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca., curated by John Baldessari

    1979 “Second Biennial”, ARCo Center for Visual Art, Los Angeles, Ca.

    1979 “The Animal Show”, LACE Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca. curated by Mary Jones

    1979 “Double X in Depth”, The Woman’s Building, Los Angeles, Ca.

    1978 “Downtown Artists”, LACE Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca.

    1978 “Sculpture in Los Angeles Since 1978”, Gallery 405 E. 4th St. Los Angeles, Ca.

    1978 “Group Show” Gallery 405 E. 4th St. Los Angeles, Ca

    1978 “Double X Plus”, LACE Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca

  • The Broad Art Foundation, Los Angeles

    George and Betty Woodman, NYC

    John Guest Ltd. (London)

    Security Pacific Bank, Los Angeles

    Celebrity Cruises art collection

    Prudential Life

    Wells Fargo Bank

    The Carnation Company

  • McGlynn, Tom, Mary Jones: Les Problémes du Confort https://brooklynrail.org/2023/04/artseen/Mary-Jones-Les-Problmes-du-Confort

    Woolbright, Andrew Paul, “A Scan Through The Canon: Mary Jones’ Attachments at High Noon Gallery, https://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/attachments-at-high-noon-gallery/4752

    Brock, Hovey, “Attachments,” https://brooklynrail.org/2020/11/artseen/Mary-Jones-Attachments

    Trauring, Michelle, “Divine Intervention Transforms Christ Church in Sag Harbor,” www.sagharborexpress.com June 4, 2019

    Chambers, Christopher Hart, “Travel Light,” www.dartmagazine.com February, 09, 2019

    Cohen, David, “Mary Jones: Travel Light at High Noon https://list.artcritical.com/features/020719

    Travel Light: Mary Jones at High Noon, NY Art Beat:

    http://ffffffwalls.com/2012/11/mary-jones-chelsea/ Mary-Jones-Chelsea

    Goldner, Liz, “Nature Doesn’t Knock”, http://artscenecal.com/archive/810-qnature-doesnt-knockq

    Frank, Peter, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/02/haiku-reviews-_n_2397584.html 1/02/2013

    Chapline, Jonathan, http://ffffffwalls.com/2012/11/mary-jones-chelsea/ Mary-Jones-Chelsea

    Estenger, Max, http://maxestenger.blogspot.com/2012/05/in-studio-with-mary-jones.html. In The Studio with Mary Jones, May 26, 2012

    Kienholz, Lyn. “L.A. Rising: SoCal Artists before 1980,” The California/International Arts Foundation 2010

    Mallinson, Constance. Art in America, review, May 2007

    Frank, Peter. “Addition/Reduction,” Mary Jones LA Weekly Wed. January 10, 2007

    Chang, Richard. ARTnews, review, June 2007

    Pagel, David. Los Angeles Times, Friday, Dec. 22, December 2006

    Jashinsky, Judy. “timelines,” catalogue, 2003

    Garwood, Deborah. “Bower of Bliss,” catalogue, 2002

    Yablonsky, Linda. “Mary Jones,” catalogue, 2002

    Bourbon, Matthew. NY Arts, “Mary Jones,” review, Feb. 2000

    Sheets, Hilarie M. ARTnews, “Mary Jones,” review, June, 2000

    Johnson, Ken. NY Times, “Baroque Geometry,” Friday, Jan. 8, 1999

    Cotter, Holland . NY Times, “Immediacies of the Hand,” Friday, April 9, 1999

    Smith, Roberta. NY Times, "Hothouse" review, Friday, Sept. 6, 1996

    Drier, Deborah. "Vision At Sea," catalogue, 1996

    Barrett, Chris. "Happy Chaos," Metro Pulse (Tennessee) 1996

    Mills, Dan. "The Enduring Presence," catalogue, 1996

    Hirsch, Faye. “Mary Jones: Color Sense,” catalogue, 1995

    Saltz, Jerry. Art in America, "A Year in the Life" Oct. 1994

    Smith, Roberta. New York Times, "Review" Friday, Dec. 10, 1993

    Frank, Peter. LA Weekly, "Art Pick of the Week" Friday, Dec. 8, 1989

    Curtis,Cathy. Los Angeles Times, Calendar Galleries Friday, Nov. 24, 1989

    Pincus, Robert L. Art in America, "Mary Jones At Ovsey" Sept. 1988

    Donahue, Marlene. Los Angeles Times, Friday, Feb. 26, 1988, Part IV

    McKenna, Kristine. Los Angeles Times, Friday, Sept. 26, 1986 Part IV

    McCloud, Janet. ARTWEEK, "An Integration of Opposites," March 9, 1985

    Muchnic, Suzanne. Los Angeles Times, Friday, March 1, 1985 Part IV

    Pincus, Robert L. Los Angeles Times, Friday, Oct. 21, 1985

    Christenberry, William. ARTFORUM, "Directions, 1983" Oct. 1983

    Silverthorne, Jeanne. ARTFORUM, Oct. 1983

    Ashbery, John. Newsweek, "Biennials Bloom In The Spring

    Fleming, Lee. Images & Issues, "What's At Issue Is The Issue" Sept/Oct 1983

    Knight, Christopher. Los Angeles Herald Examiner, "California Living-Art Inc."

    Drohojowska, Hunter. Los Angeles Herald Examiner, "Making Art In The M-Zone", June 20, 1982

    Knight, Christopher. Los Angeles Herald Examiner, "Mary Jones: Art That Runs Silent, Runs Deep,” April 11, 1982

  • Kienholz, Lyn. “L.A. Rising: SoCal Artists before 1980,” The

    California/International Arts Foundation, 2010

    Neher, Ross. “Blindfolding the Muse: The Plight of Painting in the Age of Conceptual Art,” Prenom Press, New York, NY, 1999.

  • 2023-1998 Senior Critic, Rhode Island School of Design

    2023-2009 Instructor, School of Visual Arts, NYC

    2012, and 2003, nominated for the John R. Frazier Award for Excellence in Teaching, RISD

  • “Video Games and Art, 2013, RISD, Providence, R.I.

    “Your Portrait in Oils,” 2009, Michael Steinberg Fine Art, NYC

    "SLAD," 1997, (with Janice Krasnow) Apex Gallery, NYC

    "Salon des Tree," 1997, 1996, (with Austin Ackles), Central Park, NYC

    "Swag & Puddle," 1996 (with Janice Krasnow) The Workspace, NYC

    "Pleasant Pebble," 1995 (with Janice Krasnow) The Workspace, NYC

    "Selected Sheets," 1991, 4 Walls, Brooklyn.

  • Katy Crowe: A Wrinkle in the Macula

    https://brooklynrail.org/2022/09/artseen/Katy-Crowe-A-Wrinkle-in-the-Macula

    Nancy Evans: Moonshadow

    https://brooklynrail.org/2022/05/artseen/Nancy-Evans-Moonshadow

    Takako Yamaguchi: “7 + 7”

    https://brooklynrail.org/2021/11/artseen/Takako-Yamaguchi-7-7

    A Tribute to Alain Kirili

    https://brooklynrail.org/2021/11/in-memoriam/A-Tribute-to-Alain-Kirili

    Taney Roniger/ Never the Same River https://brooklynrail.org/2020/10/artseen/Taney-Roniger-Never-The-Same-River

    Lightness of Being: Alain Kirili discusses his new work with Mary Jones

    http://www.artcritical.com/2018/12/27/mary-jones-with-alain-kirili/

    Sliding Away into Space: Barbara Takenaga at DC Moore

    http://www.artcritical.com/2018/09/27/mary-jones-on-barbara-takenaga/

    A Multifaceted Career: Raul Guerrero talks with Mary Jones

    www.artcritical.com/2018/07/03/raul-guerrero-with-mary-jones/

    X-Ray Vision: Mary Jones discusses her work with Brenda Zlamany http://www.artcritical.com/2016/11/15/x-ray-vision-mary-jones-discusses-work-brenda-zlamany/

    “An Autobiography of a Garden: Andrew Raftery in Conversation with Mary Jones

    http://www.artcritical.com/2016/09/10/mary-jones-with-andrew-raftery/

    “Brainbow: Sarah Walker in conversation with Mary Jones”

    http://www.artcritical.com/2016/09/25/mary-jones-with-sarah-walker/

    “I Paint Myself Out of the Paintings”: A Studio Visit with David Rhodes

    www.artcritical.com/2016/06/21/david-rhodes-with-mary-jones/

    “A Portrait a Day, and Back in the Day,” an interview with Brenda Zlamany

    www.artcritical.com/2015/12/14/brenda-zlamany-with-mary-jones/

    “Maren Hassinger” by Mary Jones

    http://bombmagazine.org/article/0829120/maren-hassinger Feb. 23rd, 2015

    “Amy Feldman by Mary Jones”, http://bombmagazine.org/article/1000182/amy-feldman June 26, 2014

    “I Will Be Who” Interview with Barbara T. Smith, https://bombmagazine.org/articles/i-will-be-who/ Dec. 7th,2012

    “Dream Catcher: Mira Schor”, Interview with Mira Schor, June 19th, 2012 https://bombmagazine.org/articles/dream-catcher-mira-schor/

    “Switzerland for Movie Stars”, Interview with Kanishka Raja, https://bombmagazine.org/articles/post-impressions-switzerland-for-movie-stars/ March 9th, 2012

    “Regifting”, Interview with Whitney Claflin, https://bombmagazine.org/articles/post-impressions-regifting/ Oct. 18th, 2011

    “The Mountain”, Interview with Marc Handelman July 27, 2011 https://bombmagazine.org/articles/post-impressions-the-mountain/

    “The Enlightenment”, Interview with Aaron Gilbert. https://bombmagazine.org/articles/post-impressions-the-enlightenment/ March 9. 2011

    Joan Waltemath, Interview with Joan Waltemath, https://bombmagazine.org/articles/joan-waltemath/ Sept 28th, 2010

    “Klaus Could Never Do This”, Interview with Rob Hult and Sam Wilson, June 4th, 2010 https://bombmagazine.org/articles/klaus-could-never-do-this/

    “It Helps to Have a Crazy Family”, Interview with Rebeca Raney, Nov. 24th, 2009

    https://bombmagazine.org/articles/post-impressions-it-helps-to-have-a-crazy-family/

    “Berlin Calling: Alexis Knowlton”, Interview with Alexis Knowlton, Sept. 2nd, 2009

    https://bombmagazine.org/articles/berlin-calling-alexis-knowlton/

    “What Color is Your Fire?”, Interview with William Miller, June 11th, 2009 https://bombmagazine.org/articles/post-impressions-what-color-is-your-fire/

    “The Optimism of Observation”, Interview with Julian Kreimer, May 7th 2009 https://bombmagazine.org/articles/post-impressions-the-optimism-of-observation/