True Romance

John Jenkins’ arch, propaganda-savvy show charts the evolution of Romanticism to the advertising age.

FOR A LONG TIME, painting was just something that John Jenkins did. The Memorial-based artist, who has new work up this fall at Nicole Longnecker Gallery (2625 Colquitt St., 346.800.2780), discovered his passion for the palette by playing around with some paint a friend was using for a college art class. At that point, painting was not necessarily anything he’d want to share with the public on a larger scale. “A gallery wasn’t very important to me,” muses Jenkins, now 45. “There’s a lot of pretension that goes along with the gallery scene, and I wasn’t thrilled with it.”


It wasn’t until a friend badgered him into carting his art over to Bering & James Gallery that he found a gallery that assuaged his concerns. The now-defunct gallery signed him on the spot, unburdened him of the art he walked in with, and in 2007 gave him his first solo show, which nearly sold out. His career took off, and now he presents bold new work that zings the media as propagandists.

Artists John Jenkins with his "Autumn Bomb"Artists John Jenkins with his "Autumn Bomb"

Jenkins grew up in what he calls a “nerdy family” — both of his parents work for NASA — so a heavy intellectual current flows from this work. The 40 graphic and mostly representational acrylic paintings in his current show, The Triumph of Romanticism, are inspired by what Jenkins sees as the appropriation of Romantic Era notions by the nationalists of the World War II propaganda machine, which evolved into today’s advertising industry.

That evolution is why you’ll find a four-panel piece featuring pinup girls and ’50s housewives painted beneath Chinese characters that alarmingly translate as: “We will not attack unless we are attacked. If we are attacked we will counterattack.” Then there’s a piece that features George Washington and Vladimir Lenin on opposite sides of the Paramount logo.

The show’s darker subject matter is a departure for Jenkins, and unexpected from the amiable artist; he’s worked part-time at the Container Store for the past 10 years mainly because he likes being around people. But then again, there is a subtle humor to be gleaned from how he punctures the zeitgeist. “It’s a fine line to walk, because you don’t want to be offensive,” he says, “but you also don’t want to say the media is bad and advertising is bad because that’s not really what it’s about.”

But according to Jenkins, his critique goes deeper than just the media and places some blame on consumers themselves. “You can’t just blame the media and the advertisers,” he notes. “Sometimes it’s just basically the gullibility of people.”

Art+Culture
Thrive & Inspire: Michelle Reyna Wymes Stresses Importance of ‘Continuing to Learn’

Michelle Reyna Wymes, Co-Owner of The Reyna Group

WHAT'S THE SECRET to running a successful business? It is so important to stay present every day. With the fast-paced patterns of today’s society and ever-evolving technologies, I stress to our agents how important it is to continue to learn. If one reaches a point at which the ego takes over or burnout sets in and progress takes a back seat, things will get stuck. Regardless of what field you are in, I believe in starting with the basics to set and strengthen your foundation. I treat everyone we work with from our contractors, clients, to our inspectors with respect, patience and care.

Keep ReadingShow less

Japanese ube pancakes at Traveler's Table

WHETHER YOU ARE brunching with kids in tow, in it for the Bloody Marys, or craving prime rib, seafood and seasonal strawberry desserts served on a silver platter, H-Town has the Easter treat for every bunny!

Keep ReadingShow less
Food

THE ASTROS’ ADORED manager Dusty Baker has another love besides the dugout — it’s the vineyard where his grapes are grown for his wine made in Sacramento, Calif. He’s celebrating the start of the 2023 baseball season with a Brennan’s of Houston wine dinner this weekend, starring his Baker Family wines.

Keep ReadingShow less