On Friday, just before the reception of my solo show Cul-de-Sac at the Triton Museum, the independent news and arts site 48 Hills SF was kind enough to post a profile of me on their website.
My Solo Show "Cul-de-Sac" Opens Tomorrow at the Triton Museum
Happy holidays, everyone!
Tomorrow, my solo show, Cul-de-Sac, opens at the Triton Museum.
One of the last things I did last year before the holidays was to rent a U-Haul truck and haul 40 paintings from my studio near downtown San Jose over to Santa' Clara’s Triton Museum. I had panicky visions of the van skidding off an overpass or getting T-boned by a Tesla while transporting over five years’ worth of work. If you’ve seen the 1950s French thriller Wages of Fear, that was more or less my mood on the drive over. Thankfully, the trip was largely disaster-free.
This week, the talented crew at Triton put up my work in the Cowell Room Gallery, an octagonal space located to the left of the main entrance. It looks amazing, if I do say so myself.
There will be a reception for the show on Saturday, January 24, from 2-4 pm. I’ll be there. Stop by and say hi.
Announcing My First Solo Show at the Triton Museum in January 2026
I'm insanely pleased to announce my first-ever solo show, Cul-de-Sac, at the Triton Museum in Santa Clara, California, beginning in January of next year. I spent most of this year preparing for this show and I can’t wait so see my work presented in a space as beautiful as the Triton. If you're in the area, please check it out.
Here’s the press release:
Triton Museum of Art Presents: Jonathan Crow
“(SANTA CLARA, CA) - The Triton Museum of Art presents Cul-de-sac (January 10, 2026 - May 3, 2026) by Jonathan Crow. Jonathan Crow is a Santa Clara-based artist whose background in film heavily influences and shapes his work. Crow’s experience combined with oil as his primary medium come together in exploring form, color, and tension to create pieces that are reminiscent of stills from movies.
Originally from Ohio, Jonathan Crow first became familiar with the mountains, palm trees, dusty hills, and light of suburban California from visiting his grandparents. Crow eventually moved to California and received his MFA in Filmmaking from the California Institute of the Arts in 2003. A decade later, following a career shift, Crow returned to his love of art, and the result of it became an internet sensation. Crow’s series of U.S. Vice Presidents with octopuses on their heads, aptly titled Veeptopus, was featured in Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and The New York Times. Switching to oil as his primary medium in 2018, Crow’s paintings began to illustrate the marriage of his love for painting and film.
Jonathan Crow’s upcoming exhibition, Cul-de-sac, consists of a curated collection of paintings that combine the quiet, unassuming stillness of suburbia, with moments of dark and unsettling humor. These scenes in his paintings draw inspiration from Edward Hopper, Richard Diebenkorn, and the films of David Lynch. In many of these scenes, there is a “growing unease” or “some menace that looms just outside the frame,” as Crow explains, which also brings forth conversations of vital topics including race, gender, and the complicated nature of living in America.
Crow’s work has been exhibited throughout the Bay Area and beyond, including Arc Gallery (San Francisco), the New Museum Los Gatos, Marin MOCA, TAG Gallery (Los Angeles), and the de Young Museum.
Cul-de-sac by Jonathan Crow will be on view in the Triton Museum of Art’s Cowell Room Gallery starting January 10th, 2026.
The Triton Museum Art is a nonprofit institution and a vital community resource that provides accessible exhibition and education programs, which promote a broad range of contemporary California art. Through its multifaceted programs, the museum brings together the culturally diverse population of the Greater Bay Area to foster a better understanding of art and its role in building a strong community. The museum provides free parking and free admission; the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm.
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Prints of "The Finger" Now Available!
Last month, I finished “The Finger.” As I wrote on my Instagram page, “Not subtle, perhaps, but heartfelt.”
The inspiration of the painting is from a news photo from 1986 of one brave soul succinctly stating his opinion of a Klansman during a parade in Auburn University. There was something about the light and composition, when I propped in, that reminded me of a Renaissance painting. I spent a lot of time getting the light and clothing as right as I could.
And when I posted it on IG last month, I was rewarded. The thing went way more viral than anything else I’ve ever posted before. Amid the hundreds of comments, I was repeated asked to offer prints of the painting. And who am I to question the demands of the market?
Prints of “The Finger” are available here.
NYC Sketchbook 2025
I spent last week in NYC. As I usually do when I travel, I kept a sketchbook. Unlike here in suburban California, New York is a sketchers paradise with amazing vistas and interesting looking people everywhere. Over the past years, I’ve been pushing myself to draw more landscapes and architecture. Here are a few of my sketches
"Tea Time" Wins First Prize at GBAO
I was very happy and surprised to learn that my painting “Tea Time” won first prize in the oil painting category at the 2025 Greater Bay Area Open Art show at the New Museum in Los Gatos. This was very unexpected — I didn’t even really know that they were even offering prizes, and there are a lot of great works at the exhibit. The show runs until October 5.
"Tea Time" At The 2025 GBAO at the New Museum of Los Gatos
I'm pleased to announce that my painting Tea Time will be part of the 2025 Greater Bay Area Open up in New Museum Los Gatos. It’s a great space and there are some great artists participating in the exhibition. The reception is this Thursday from 6-8 pm. If you have a hankering for art, cheap wine, and conversation, stop by.
"Holiday Snap" at SHOH Gallery's "What Beauty is For..." Exhibit
I'm pleased to announce that my painting "Holiday Snap" will be part of the "What Beauty is for..." exhibit at the Shoh Gallery in Berkeley, CA. The show runs from 6/26 to 7/13, and the reception will be on 6/28 from 5 to 8 p.m. I hope to see you there!
Portuguese Sketchbook
I just got back from a trip to Portugal – specifically Lisbon and Porto. It was nice to get out of the toxic chaos in the US and sit around, eat good food and drink a lot of wine. As is my habit, I carried around a sketchbook and drew a lot during my travels. Below are a few of those sketches…
Two Paintings at the upcoming 'Delicious' show at Studio Gallery SF
Last month, I revealed that three of my paintings would be a part of the San Francisco Noir show at Studio Gallery in San Francisco. This month, I’d like to announce that two more of my paintings will be a part of the Delicious show, also at Studio Gallery.
As I’m sure you can surmise, the show, which Studio Gallery hosts annually, is about artworks related to food. This year, I painted a picture of a can of sardines, which I creatively titled Sardines!. I’ve always liked canned fish. And they say, paint what you love. I made this painting using only four pigments – red, yellow ochre, black, and white — the Zorn palette.
Also in the show is a work I did last year, but finished too late for the 2024 Delicious Show, called Two Bobas.
The show runs from June 12 to July 7, 2025
Three Paintings at the San Francisco Noir Show at Studio Gallery!
I’ve been a bit quiet lately. I have some big news coming up that I’m not quite ready to announce. But let’s just say that something exciting is coming down the pike, and I am spending as much time as I can furiously working in the studio.
In the meantime, I wanted to announce that three of my paintings — Mike’s Car Wash, Loreen Drinks, and Rita with a Gun – will be a part of the San Francisco Noir show at Studio Gallery. The paintings are a part of a series of small, portrait-driven works based on vintage photographs from the 1960s and 70s. While a lot of my larger works are inspired by my trips to my grandparents’ house in California as a kid, these paintings feel more inspired by my upbringing in rural Ohio.
The show runs from May 15th to June 2nd. The opening reception (which I’m planning on attending) will be this Sunday, May 18th, from 3 to 5 pm. Hope to see you there!
Morocco Sketchbook
I recently went to Morocco, which was truly a mind-blowing trip. From the narrow maze of Fes to the vast vistas of the Sahara, I saw sights and sounds that I never experienced before. Also I got some very nice rugs. As is my MO, I kept a sketchbook of my travels. Here are a few pictures…
Showing "Backyard in Yellow" at the Arc Gallery in San Francisco
‘Tis the season for end-of-year shows. So alongside the Tiny show at Studio Gallery, I’m also very excited to announce that my 2024 painting Backyard in Yellow is a part of the “Joy” exhibition at the Arc Gallery in San Francisco.
This painting shows a middle-aged woman catching a private moment of joy in her backyard, bare feet on dead grass. I did this partially to see how far I could go with painting using just shades of yellow. I cheated a bit with the flesh tones.
The show runs from November 16, 2024 to January 11, 2025. And the opening reception is November 16, 7-9 PM. Hope to see you there.
Three Tiny Paintings for the Tiny Show in Studio Gallery
I’m pleased to announce that I have three tiny paintings (6x6”) showing at the Tiny exhibit at Studio Gallery in San Francisco. They have been doing this every holiday season for 20 years, and this is my third year showing with them. Last year, I painted pink donuts and all of them sold. This year, I went for coffee and cigarettes. The show runs from November 8 to December 24.
If you’re interested but not in the Bay Area, you can buy works from their website!
Two Small Paintings
Here’s two small paintings I recently did. They are called, imaginatively, Coffee and Cigarettes No. 1 and Coffee and Cigarettes No. 2 (both 6x6” Oil on panel)
Mask at 2358 MKRT Gallery
I hope everyone has had a groovy summer.
I just wanted to announce that my 2023 painting Mask, will be a part of the Showstoppers exhibit at the San Francisco gallery 2358 MRKT.
I'm really excited to show this work, one of my faves from last year, alongside some other amazing Bay Area artists. The reception for the show is Friday, August 30th from 6-9 pm. So if you're in the San Francisco area this weekend, please stop by. I'd love to see you.
Cheers
Jonathan
Italian Sketchbook
Earlier this month, my wife, son and I ventured to Italy – Venice, Florence and Milan specifically. It was a fantastic trip and, frankly, I didn’t want to come home. As I usually do, I drew constantly. And Italy, with its picturesque cities, interesting-looking people and numerous cafes, especially lends itself to drawing. Here are some of my travel sketches.
See My Painting At the 2024 Salon at the Triton
I'm really pleased to announce that my painting Penny has been selected for this year's Salon at the Triton Museum. I'm really excited to show this work, one of my faves from last year, alongside some other amazing Bay Area artists. The reception for the show is Saturday, May 25 from 2-4 pm. So if you're in the San Jose/Santa Clara area this weekend, please stop by. I'd love to see you.
Two Paintings at the Interior Exhibit at Studio Gallery SF
Two of my paintings – Pacific St. and Hallway – are a part of this month's "Interiors" exhibit over at Studio Gallery in San Francisco. The show runs until April 22. If you're in the area and need a fresh fix of some good art, you should check out this show.
Here are all the paintings I've done in 2024
Recently, I’ve been knocking out a string of small oil paintings on gesso board. They’re all based on vintage snapshots. Singularly, each picture looks at the secret, libidinal lives of its subjects. But I think like a filmmaker. The combination and juxtaposition of these paintings together feel like pieces of a larger dialogue about the act of looking and being looked at. The voyeur and the uncomfortable object of desire.
