Museum Exhibitions | John Jones biography | Press Reviews| Return to John Jones Gullah Art page

John W. Jones
Artist, Lecturer and Legacy Preservationist

South Carolina born artist John W. Jones has been a freelance artist and illustrator for more than 25 years. His former clients include Time Life Books, IBM, Westinghouse, Rubbermaid, NASA, Gadded Space and Flight Center, and the U.S. Postal Service.

Jones explores life through art. This multi-talented artist uses oils, acrylics and watercolors for his painting. Striving for detail in light and reflection, he meticulously draws each painting first, and then layers it with color, resulting in very realistic interpretations of everyday life and landscapes, as well as historical insights into our past.

Jones’ goal is to paint the African American experience starting with the slave trade in Africa, through the Middle Passage and pre-civil war era, and contrast it with African Americans today.

Mr. Jones gained national acclaim for his paintings inspired by images of slaves he discovered engraved on Confederate Currency. He has also painted a series on the Buffalo Soldiers and the 54^th Massachusetts regiments. He is currently working on a new series called “Gullah Lifestyles: A Culture Under Attack. It is a visual narrative that documents the culture and traditions of the Gullah people of South Carolina, and the challenges that threaten its continued existence.

His work is in several private and public collections including the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, the City of Charleston Office of Economic Development, and the Avery Research Center. Published works include "The cover of the Charleston Area Visitors Guide", “The Charleston Farmers Market Poster", and the book, “Confederate Currency: The Color of Money His paintings are available at Gallery Chuma in Charleston, SC.

Jones, who graduated from high school in 1968 and self-taught, has been drawing since early childhood. Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1970, Jones served in the Vietnam War, where he also took illustration classes in military School.

Jones has lectured widely as an artist, activist and motivational speaker at various universities and colleges, conferences and corporate events.

His current traveling exhibition, Confederate Currency: The Color of Money has been featured in several well-respected and top media outlets, including The New York Times, Time Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, The Boston Globe, CNN and National Public Radio.

.