I recently attended Ronald Jackson’s Art Talk at Galerie Myrtis in Baltimore, MD, featuring his solo exhibition, An American Fiction, inspired by the novel Erasure.
I’ve been following Ronald Jackson for about six years and have noticed that many of his paintings have been featured in movies and museums worldwide. What attracts me to his work is the incredible detail in each portrait and the fact that most of his subjects wear masks. To me, this speaks to how many African Americans—and, dare I say, Americans in general—live their lives today. We can be one person in the comfort of our own homes and someone else when we step out into the world. We all wear masks, and as RuPaul has famously stated, we all wear drag in our own unique way.
Learning about how Jackson got his start, his background, and his creative process was fascinating to me. Understanding the stories behind his work gave me an even greater appreciation for his paintings and the thought that goes into creating each piece.
Giving Flowers to Galerie Myrtis
I want to step back for a minute and give flowers to Galerie Myrtis. A small gallery specializing in the presentation of African American art, located near the University of Maryland in Baltimore, the gallery provides a space for artists who deserve recognition for their contributions to Black culture, the political landscape, and the historical movements that have shaped the Black experience.
It’s All in the Details
What attracted me to Ronald Jackson’s paintings is the details, the foundation of fine art in each piece, and the feeling that you know and understand the characters he creates.
I see and feel the culture in the style and dress that reminds me of my Grandmother’s younger days in the 1940s. The dandyism that black culture created to express themselves. The expressions, and even the non-expressions in the eyes of each character, were fascinating. The colors, patterns, and composition of the background were also cultural, expressive, and eye-catching.
When I look at these characters, these subjects, I feel like I’ve seen them before. I know them and understand their backgrounds.
Two Paintings That Spoke to Me
There were two paintings in particular that drew me in, and I was so happy to see them in person.
A Reflection of My Mother and Grandmother
The first painting is Badass, 2024. This woman reminds me of a combination of my mother and my maternal grandmother. The woman in the painting is dressed like my grandmother was dressed back in the 1940s. Her hairstyle resembles how my mother wore her hair in high school. I’ve also watched my mother over the years clean and take care of her family with rubber gloves. Whether she was cooking or cleaning, she wore gloves to make everyone feel safe around her.
And the title of the piece is Badass, which is exactly how I would describe my grandmother.
The mask, to me, represents how both my Granny and mother were like a superhero. We didn’t have much, but these women made us feel like we had the world in our backyards.
Looking at this painting, I can’t help but think about the strength, sacrifice, and quiet determination of the women who came before me. They carried so much responsibility while making sure their families had what they needed. Sometimes, the mask they wore was simply what allowed them to keep going.
Finding Beauty in the Everyday
The second piece I loved is part of Jackson’s An American Fiction series. His character, or subject, Abraham Jenkins, comes across as an everyday Black man who works, takes care of his family, and is loved by his friends. It is based on a character from An American Fiction.
For me, I see disappointment, or perhaps the exhaustion, in his eyes through his glasses, and yet somehow, he creates beauty, happiness, and joy just to get through each and every day. That’s why I think the flowers and birds in the portrait are so meaningful.
Again, this is my personal interpretation of the piece. Even though his face is partially hidden behind his glasses, he comes across as attractive, intelligent, and inviting, while still protecting who he is and what he allows into his life.
During the Art Talk, Jackson explained and showed us how he began this painting and how he changed it several times throughout the process. The coat looked different when he first started putting the piece together, and the flowers and birds were added to bring interest and a sense of mystery to the painting.
Even without those elements, Jackson is still an amazing painter. I love studying the lines, highlights, and shadows, and even noticing the places on the canvas where he made changes and left some areas of the canvas exposed.
Seeing those little details gave me confidence in my own ability to draw, paint, and create. It reminded me that I can make mistakes and change things up, and that’s OK. My art will still be admired for what it is.
Sometimes, we need that reminder that creating something meaningful doesn’t mean getting everything right the first time. There is beauty in the process.
