I am interested in expressions of humanity – in exposing and revealing, in the mirroring and reflecting that helps to convey the self – both the personal and universal. My work is most often viewed as painting. It stems, however, from a deep love of drawing and sculpture. I consider the process to be a type of sculptural monoprint making. I work in reverse on a flat surface, first ‘drawing’ and sculpting with different media, and then casting each piece in hydrocal. In this multi-step process – vicious, messy – some elements are lost while others are gained. The final result reveals many unexpected surprises embedded and ‘caught’ in the alchemy of casting – magical, serendipitous things happen as all the individual parts embrace the whole.

This work is very process driven with control only possible up to a certain tipping point. In each piece, I have to surrender to the materials, initiating a collaboration of sorts. It is this dynamic between control and release that I find seductive, keeping the relationship with my practice exciting. I also have a strong connection and attraction to materials. Each tin foil line is made by hand-rolling foil around thin gauge wire, the terrazzo glass is poured through the fingers – similar to sand painting – each piece of rubber and fabric is hand dipped into paint and applied carefully, and, once the piece has cured, it is rubbed with wax and buffed to a sheen. These pieces are deeply textured and have been touched. I know when one is finished as much by the way as it looks, as by the way it feels.

My work directly and indirectly references a broad range of influence – early Coptic art, Sumi-e ink drawings, African mask making, vintage erotic cartoons, emojis, Sumerian sculpture, Kundalini yoga, arts and crafts. Small bits of these influences are plucked and embedded in each piece. They are a kind of nest making, a diary, a personal history reimagined and applied.

I create visuals that reference the body, the psyche, and the erotic through fossil-like, eccentric figures. Depicting the inner world of the mind and subconscious, my work is psychedelic in nature. These pieces are not sequential or linear, there is no right or wrong entry point – jump right down the rabbit hole and find your way. There you will find a full cast of characters, large gazing eyes, improvisational patterns, bearers of inexplicable longings and fears. All portraying and excavating radical forms of transcendence, transformation, and exaltation beyond the common known — I want the spirit to surface.

Born in Jacksonville Beach, FL

Lives and works in New York

EDUCATION

2006 MFA University of Wisconsin-Madison

2001 BFA University of North Florida

TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS

2016    Kari Cholnoky/Erin Lee Jones, Safe Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2018    I’ll Be Your Mirror, Mild Climate, Nashville, TN

2017    Born To Run, curated by Brooke Tomiello, Lane Meyer Projects, Denver, CO

The Unearthly, PRATT, DeKalb Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

Take Me to the Double Picnic, Songs for Presidents, Ridgewood, NY

2016    Women Artists for Women’s Rights, Safe Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

SIX, Regina Rex, New York, NY

Super Sketchy, Alleyoop Projects, New York, NY

So Much, So Little, All at Once, Regina Rex, New York, NY

2015    Pick One, curated by Regina Rex, Harbor, New York, NY

2014    Heart’s Gymnastics, Outpost, Ridgewood, NY

The Rock Show, Hawkeye, Brooklyn, NY

The Last Brucennial, New York, NY

2013    The Librarians, Queens College Art Center, Queens, NY

Dons of Civilization, curated by Leah Dixon, Beverly’s, New York, NY

Show #1, Striphanger, Brooklyn, NY

2012    French Oyster Club, Select Fair, Miami, FL

Greasy Pink, French Neon, New York, NY

The Color Grey, galleryHOMELAND, Portland, OR

The Color Grey, galleryHOMELAND, Houston, TX

Kindred Spirits, curated by Jordana Zeldin, Brooklyn, NY

Brucennial 2012: Harderer, Betterer, Fasterer, Strongerer, New York, NY

2011    Neon Rainbow, curated by Amber Vilas, French Neon, New York, NY

2010    PPPlaza, 2917 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL

Physical Center, curated by Amanda Schmitt, Convent of St. Cecilia, Brooklyn

A Dry Opening, Outlaw Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

Visionary/Visions are scary, French Neon, Brooklyn, NY

Brucennial 2010: Miseducation, New York, NY

Bring Your Own Art (BYOA), X-Initiative, New York, NY

2009    Satisfaction Town, Columbia College Conaway Center, Chicago, IL

In House: Brouhaha, Rituals-y Business, Queens College Art Center, Queens

2007    Jameson, Morrisey, Pepper Jack&the One That Got Away,Max Fish, New York

PRESS

2017    Maake Magazine, curated by Yevgeniya Baras, Issue 5, Fall 2017

2016    Calandra, Maria, “Erin Lee Jones”, Pencil in the Studio, February, 2016

CURATORIAL

2009-2012       Co-director and Co-founder of artist collective French Neon

PERFORMANCE CAMEOS

2017    The Amps, Purple Nail Polish, and The Fly,  in collaboration with Matt Shalzi, curated by Monika Fabijanska, The Culture Club, Brooklyn, NY

The Room, Dan Bainbridge and Matt Shalzi, ART3, Brooklyn, NY

2016    Crackers #2, Rotisserie Pig Drum, Kinetic Whale and the 7 Snakes, Dan Bainbridge, Safe Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

Crackers #2, Rotisserie Pig Drum, Kinetic Whale and the 7 Snakes, Dan Bainbridge, ART3, Brooklyn, NY

2011    LOOK: A Retrospective of the Future, Baby Skin Glove, Culturefix, New York, NY

H[O]M[O]E, Baby Skin Glove, Brooklyn, NY

2010    The Dinner Famine, Baby Skin Glove, Culture Fix, New York, NY

Foot to mouth:ONE minus one, Sarah H Paulson, Alice Chilton Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2009    Rotten Metal Achievers, Faurot & Paulson, Grace Exhibition Space, Brooklyn, NY