Jonni Cheatwood combines oil paint, oil sticks, acrylics and textile in his works. The canvases are typically constructed of pieces of fabrics, which are unified together almost quilt-like or a puzzle. Cheatwood’s original inspiration for painting started in graffiti, moving to the action painting of abstract expressionism.
Cheatwood’s works are characterized by bold, gestural brushstrokes and interesting figurativeness. Detailed interiors and characters are emerging in the artist’s distinctive visual style, marked by dynamic painterly gestures, sharp lines and vivid primary colors. Cheatwood’s works evoke a warm, nostalgic sensation similar to browsing through one’s family photographs. However, the people depicted in his works aren’t specifically based on his own relatives or friends; instead, the artist considers the themes of identity and anonymity, creating characters that feel universally relatable.
Cheatwood’s canvases are built of materials such as e.g. linen and denim, and he uses textiles in inventive ways. Fabrics function not only as structural elements, but also as representational tools for surfaces and objects, such as window frames or floor tiling. Another central aspect is in the use of gestural movements - the painter’s own “sweet spot” as he describes them – particularly visible in the expressive rendering of the figures’ faces. These painterly interventions lend the compositions a playful immediacy, balancing humor with a distinct emotional sensitivity that draws the viewer into the scene. At the same time, the overall surrealistic approach introduces also a layer of nostalgia to the works. Fragmented interiors, familiar objects, and unreal characters that seem suspended between memory and imagination. Through this interplay of materiality, gesture, and narrative ambiguity, Cheatwood constructs paintings that are both visually compelling and psychologically resonant.
Cheatwood has graduated as Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Production from Arizona State University, Tempe, USA. He has had several solo exhibitions and participated in international group shows and art fairs in Asia, United States, Australia and Europe. Cheatwood’s works are included in the collections of The Abraham Foundation, Beirut, Lebanon, Casa Malca, Tulum, Mexico, Hort Family Collection, New York, and other private collections, among others.
