A little recognition a little bit late is better than no recognition at all. Although his exhibit upstairs at Studio Quest, 322 W. Gorham St., will be coming down later today, Anthony Jones has proven to be quite a talent in an unconventional field of art.
A Washington, D.C., native, Jones’ art is fresh, challenging, and not easily understood at first glance. Exploring the legendary inkblots that made Rorschach a scholarly household name, Jones’ art is like his personality: bold and provocative.
While Rorschach used the inkblots to psychoanalyze and diagnose patients, Jones uses the once-drab inkblots in a more fragmented and stunning fashion. Each blot by itself is nothing more than a big smudge, but stepping back, it all comes together. Although the ink and paper itself is black and white, the images are so active that they seem to be brimming with colors. The entirety of Jones’ ink medium creates cohesive images that make his work prized in Madison and in the homes of several celebrities who have acquired his works for their personal use.
From inkblots on paper to ink on a detached door of a retro refrigerator, Jones’ use of the artistic medium on various media fills the empty loft at Studio Quest quite well.
With influences ranging from horror icons Clive Barker and Ridley Scott to martial-arts master Bruce Lee and guitarist Eddie Van Halen, Jones encapsulates the same kind of eclectic nature into each of his pieces. While he is constantly evolving as an artist and continues to pursue an unconventional means of challenging his audience, Jones is an undeniable talent. Stop by Studio Quest to give his work a last look before he moves on to his next exhibit. You never know what you’ll see.
