Jonathan D. Wallace

Jonathan D. Wallace is a multi disciplined artist who explores the symbolic use of figures and the lyrical movement of paint. He creates a sacred language of mystery, myth or dreamscape upon which to view the world. It is this struggle to find a balance between how we navigate our daily life and the yearning for something greater than ourselves. It is these unanswered questions that he investigates. Working in oil on canvas, oil and oil pastel on paper and carved alder panels with translucent oil glazes his paintings hint of something beyond ourselves and our understanding. He also writes poetry and composes and has released a cd of instrumental songs based on 12 poems and paintings titled Soul Cycle. He is currently working on music for a documentary film on his life and work as well as continuing to paint.

Wallace earned a BFA in Painting from the University of Illinois and a MA from the University of Wisconsin in printmaking and was the acting director of the Rockford Art Museum in 1985/86 transitioning it from the Burpee Art Museum to The Rockford Art Museum in it’s new, expanded facility.

The artist has participated in exhibitions at Owensboro Museum of Fine Art curated by Thomas Armstrong; Illinois State Museum curated by Robert Evans director; Butler Institute of American Art curated by James Pernotto; Bakersfield Museum of Art, CA; Rockford Art Museum, Rockford,IL curated by Donald Doe, director; Ruth Siegel Gallery, New York, NY; Security Pacific Gallery, Seattle, WA; J Rosenthal Gallery, Chicago, IL; Bienville Gallery, New Orleans, LA; Thomas V. Robinson Gallery, Houston, Tx; Loyola University of Chicago, IL; The Studios at 2846, Chicago, IL.

In 1990 he purchased and renovated a manufacturing building in Chicago converting it into artist studio spaces. He continues to own, manage and maintain this building which contains a full floor of his personal studio and exhibitions space. In 2005 he purchased property in Montana and designed and built studios where he creates his large scale paintings..

In 2013 he self-published A Pause Between Breaths: Unfolding of the Artist and studio: Art Poetry and Space, a book of his artwork, poetry and spaces he has designed and built.