Artist Spotlight - Jon Neal Wallace — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Biography

Jon Neal Wallace stands as a testament to the transformative power of education and personal vision in the realm of art. His journey began at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco, an institution that laid the foundation for his artistic endeavors. Wallace’s educational path took a unique turn when he merged art with physics at Vermont College of the UI&U in Montpelier, Vermont.

Lion's Pride 91.44+ 182.88 oil on canvas 23

This interdisciplinary approach culminated in a groundbreaking thesis, “Light from Design,” published in 2008 by UMIPROQUEST. In this work, Wallace introduced “Directions,” a design principle that intertwines light and sacred geometry, signaling the inception of a distinctive style that has since permeated every piece of his artwork.

Serengeti 91.44+ 182.88 oil on canvas 23

From the “Light” series to his exploration of environmental themes, Wallace’s work reflects a deep engagement with the principles he established, evolving into series that capture the essence of rainforests and national parks through a lens of neo-surrealism or what he terms “Light paintings.”

Yellowstone 2, the shaman 121.92+182.88 oil on canvas 24

Wallace’s artistic voyage was ignited in a high school art class, a space where his passion for creation first blossomed. The surreal landscapes crafted by Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte offered a window into a world where the boundaries of reality and imagination blur, inspiring Wallace to embark on a career that transcends traditional artistic norms.

Grand Tetons, the princess 121.92+121.92 oil on canvas 24

This early inspiration, coupled with his innovative approach to combining art and science, has allowed Wallace to develop a unique artistic voice. His style, characterized by the fusion of neo-surrealism with a profound exploration of light, invites viewers into a realm where the familiar is reimagined, and the sacred geometry underpinning our universe is laid bare.

Banff, the warrior 121.92+182.88 oil on canvas 24

Jon's art has been in group and solo shows nationally, and internationally. Most notable shows were Brave Destiny, Brooklyn, NY – WHA Center, 1st floor with surreal masters such as Dali, Giger, Fuchs, Grey, Venosa, and others, Water Exhibition, Lauderdale House, London, England, Inner Eye traveling show with exhibitions in Italy, Spain, Germany, and Austria, Sapere Gallery – Chicago, Illinois twice, HR Giger Museum show, Gruyeres, Switzerland, Art Next Gallery, NY, NY, and a Neo Surrealist show - Burlington, Iowa.

Kruger Wildlife 91.44+182.88 oil on canvas 24

Gallery Representation:
AdT Gallery, Adele du Tertre owner and director. 2009.
Art Next Gallery, Chelsea, New York, David Rong owner and director. 2010-11 – artist represented there were, Ai Weiwei, Melamid, Mark Echo, Anoton Kandinsky, and other Chinese artists.
Light paintings were featured in Churn Magazine 2014, and 2015.
Group show, Make Love not War in 2010. Then paintings were sent to Beijing Art Museum for a show.
Representation - I AM Group Inc., Clearwater/ St Petersburg, Florida for Environmentals and the Light paintings, 2013 2018.

Burnt Forest 121.92+121.92 oil on canvas 23

Finally, Jon’s painting, Ai Weiwei and the T Bathers featuring Mao was shown in a digital format for a reception by SEE ME at the Louvre Museum Paris, France, also at Art Basil, Miami, White House, and Gallery 4 Times Square, NYC.

Indigenous Man 121.92+121.92 oil on canvas 23

Current Art Dealer, Agent, and Curator is Adele du Tertre from Brussels, Belgium. Google her to know her biography. I am working with her on series of paintings, Rainforests, National Parks, American National Parks, and others for the next 8 years.

Artist Statement:

Jon Neal was born in Burlington, Iowa. His parents were William P Wallace, and Jean Long. He attended the Academy of Art College, San Francisco, California. He received a BA, MA, and an MFA majoring in art, creative writing, and science. Jon invented a new design principle called, Directions in 2008.

Dark Days 121.92+121.92 oil on canvas 22

He wrote a thesis paper entitled, Design from Light, which was published in 2008 by UMI ProQuest. In Jon's thesis paper, he declares he is an originator of a new design principle. His mentor for the thesis paper, PhD Elden Dale Golden stated, “In his thesis, Jon laid out a new design principle for art entitled Directions which is derived from sacred geometry and the ways that light travels through space.”

Call of the Wild 91.44+ 121.44 oil on canvas 24

The Light series artworks utilize the design principle Directions in them. From 2008 till now each painting uses it. It causes the viewer’s eyesight to follow lines, paint, and color (which are placed on the canvas) in multiple directions. This relates to light traveling in space, and the multi verse in space time.

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