Jean Wilkey is an American artist based in New Mexico whose work combines objects, landscape, animals and occasionally the figure to explore aspects of perception, identity, and our relationship to nature and to our internal self.
I mostly make oil paintings. I like to combine objects and elements in ways you might not normally expect. Much of my work is about metaphor and I like to think about possible deeper meanings from the symbolism and juxtapositions. I think of it as constructed realism; as a painted fiction that reveals a hidden reality.
I was born in the United States, grew up in New Mexico and Texas, and got a degree in commercial art thinking I’d go on to study painting — but I left to see the world instead. Wherever I went I painted and showed my work. After traveling to more than a dozen countries and living for years in Honduras, Costa Rica, and Israel, I returned to the United States and got a Master of fine arts degree in painting.
I now live in southern New Mexico with my husband, our little Covid foundling miniature Schnauzer, Smudge, and of course our turtles. Yes, we have desert box turtles. Lots of them – maybe 40, we’re not really sure. They came with the house and mostly eat and sleep and well, you know, make more turtles. I spend my time watching them, walking the dogs, muttering to myself, drinking coffee, and making paintings. I’m also active in my Baha’i community and I occasionally teach private painting classes. I recently retired from teaching as an adjunct painting and drawing professor.
I’ve shown work both in the United States and abroad and my work is in private collections in more than a dozen countries.
I hope you enjoy looking. Feel free to contact me if you have questions or comments.
PURCHASE WORK
Directly
My work is for sale and you can purchase work directly through this site. If you don’t see a price, or you want more information, please contact me. No obligation. I also sell through the galleries listed below.
Representation
LA MECHA CONTEMPORARY
3803 Frutas st., El Paso, TX
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RIO BRAVO FINE ART GALLERY
110 N Broadway St
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico 87901
575-894-0572
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