With a mix of Japanese Woodblock prints, Northern Renaissance paintings and etchings, Chinese scroll paintings, Shanghai advertising posters, comics, anatomical charts, and vintage printed ephemera as influences, James Jean combines symbolism and narrative in work that displays fluidity and grace. Often the movement within Jean's paintings is a reflection of change or transformation. Children are usually the participants in these scenarios as they contemplate a variety of situations that can be quite dark, but are softened by the artist's style and palette.

Artist: James Jean
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Kindling, an exhibition of work by James Jean, runs at the Jonathan Levine Gallery in New York through February 7, 2009.



Vanity



Hive



Swan (detail)