the art collectors » James Jean – Kindling @ Jonathan LeVine

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009

James Jean – Kindling @ Jonathan LeVine

Acclaimed illustrator, James Jean, celebrated the opening of his first ever solo exhibit this past weekend at Jonathan LeVine Gallery. Since finishing his studies at the School of Visual Arts in 2000, Jean has built up a substantial and almost fanatical fan base as an illustrator for DC/Vertigo Comics. Over the span of few short years, he has been the recipient of numerous awards within the comic book industry, grown an endless list of commercial clients including Nike, Atlantic Records and Playboy, been honored with two gold medals from The Society of Illustrators, and most recently, has entered the MOMA’s permanent collection.

With such credits to his name, it is astounding that an exhibit dedicated solely to Jeans’ art did not come sooner. His gradual and careful development of craft is clearly evident in this massive new body of art, which demonstrates a mastery of mediums including oil, acrylic, and mixed media works on both paper and canvas. The show’s title is an appropriate one. Having ceased illustration and commercial projects, Kindling ignites a new chapter in Jean’s bold redefinition as a fine artist, and if this is just the stuff of starting fires, we can only anticipate what will come next.

The Art Collectors was on hand for preview night and present an extensive photo recap. Make sure to click images for larger views.