Saxon JJ Quinn, 36, Australian based artist.
Saxon is a self-taught mixed media artist interested in the rough, the worn and the resilient. Born in country Victoria, Saxon spent his childhood surrounded by creativity. His artist mother tied a basket to the ceiling of her studio where, as a baby, he would swing while she worked. As he grew older, he began sketching, painting and experimenting with clay, at times accidentally defacing her works in the process.
After studying Communication Design and building his career in Melbourne, Saxon moved to New York City, immersing himself in the city and its urban patina. The beauty he found in the aged and weathered elements were cemented as the foundation of his creative work, and painting became the outlet.
Now, from his studio in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Saxon primarily uses canvas, graphite and paint, layering hues, symbols and textures to create works that sway from the intentional to the unrestrained, the minimalist to the uninhibited. Each piece bears meaningful motifs alongside elements of mischievous humour, with each mark representing an aspect of his life. These marks are arranged precisely to induce a sensory effect, where a calming constellation can be found in a world of perceived chaos.
“My works are much more organic in terms of how I approach them now. I've allowed myself to free-up a lot more with how I paint, encouraging mistakes and errors within the works to give each piece its own authentic language and presence. For a long time I had a lot of hesitation in this, I felt that I was an imposter amongst other artists and that I didn't deserve or wasn't yet good enough to paint freely.”
THE SOURCE
Size: 30x40cm
Medium: Glazed ceramic.
Year: 2023
Gallery: Saint Cloche, Sydney
Price: $2,500.00AUD (sold)
BEST BITS
Size: 30x40cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime, aluminium frame.
Year: 2023
Gallery: Saint Cloche, Sydney
Price: $1,800.00AUD (sold)
MESS MAKER
Size: 97x115cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Gallery: Galleri Christoffer Egelund, Copenhagen
Price: $5,500AUD (sold)
BURNT DREAMS
Size: 80cm x 100cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2023
Gallery: Galleri Christoffer Egelund, Copenhagen
Price: $5,000AUD (sold)
TBC
Size: 80cm x 100cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2023
Gallery: Galleri Christoffer Egelund, Copenhagen
Price: $5,000AUD (sold)
YOU WISH
Size: 50x70cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Gallery: Galleri Christoffer Egelund, Copenhagen
Price: $3,500.00AUD (sold)
Secret messages
Size: 150x180cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas stitched together, Acrylic marker, oil stick and oil pastel details
Year: 2023
Price: $11,000AUD (sold)
CREEPER
Size: 80x100cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2023
Gallery: Court Tree Collectige, NYC
Price: $5,000.00AUD (sold)
ROSES AND ROSE´
Size: 140cm x 180cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime, aluminium detail
Year: 2023
Gallery: TW Fine Art, Brisbane
Price: $12,500AUD
Friday Fun
Size: 140cm x 180cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2023
Gallery: TW Fine Art, Brisbane
Price: $12,500AUD
No Luck Like Good Luck
Size: 140cm x 180cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Gallery: TW Fine Art, Brisbane
Price: $12,500AUD
COWBOYS WITH VALUES
Size: 80cm x 100cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2023
Gallery: Rhett Baruch Gallery, LA
Price: $5,000.00AUD (sold)
WHAT A FANTASTIC TIME
Size: 150cm x 230cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2022
Gallery: Commission
Price: $14,000.00AUD (sold)
T.E.E.
Size: 150cm x 220cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2022
Gallery: Saint Cloche, Sydney
Price: $11,000.00AUD (sold)
SWEET TOOTH
Size: 140cm x 170cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2023
Gallery: TW Fine Art, Brisbane
Price: $11,000.00AUD
DINNER
Size: 130cm x 160cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2022
Gallery: TW Fine Art, Brisbane
Price: $10,000.00AUD (sold)
THIS TOOK LONGER
Size: 80cm x 100cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2022
Gallery: Saint Cloche, Sydney
Price: $4,300AUD
TOOTHLESS SMILE
Size: 80cm x 100cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2022
Gallery: Saint Cloche, Sydney
Price: $4,300AUD (sold)
COOL HEIGHTS
Size: 130cm x 160cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2022
Gallery: Abstract Mag
Price: $10,000AU (sold)
JM
Size: 80cm x 120cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2022
Gallery: Commission
Price: $6,000AUD (sold)
BANG BANG
Size: 80cm x 100cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2022
Gallery: Belhaus, Pheonix
Price: $5,000AUD (sold)
FAKE TEETH
Size: 80cm x 100cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2023
Gallery: Lio Projects, Toronto
Price: $5,000AUD
THIS ANNOYS YOU
Size: 80cm x 100cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2023
Gallery: Lio Projects, Toronto
Price: $5,000AUD (sold)
HORIZON
Size: 80x100cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2023
Gallery: Lio Projects, Toronto
Price: $5,000AUD (sold)
SCORCHING SUN
Size: 80x100cm
Medium: Stained raw canvas, Acrylic paint, acrylic marker, graphite, oil stick, oil paint, airbrush, studio grime.
Year: 2023
Gallery: LA Beast, Los Angeles
Price: $5,000AUD
EXHIBITIONS
2023
Group Show - Lennox St. Gallery Melbourne, Australia
Group Show - SAV Gallery Los Angeles, USA
Group Show - TW Fine Art Gallery Brisbane, Australia
Group Show - Court Tree Gallery New York, USA
Group Show - Lio Projects Toronto, Canada
Trio Show - Rhett Baruch Gallery Los Angeles, USA
Group Show - LA Breast Gallery Los Angeles, USA
Group Show - IRL Gallery New York, USA
Auction - 4XSIX Gallery London, UK
Trio Show - TW Fine Art Gallery Brisbane, Australia
Group Show - Galleri Christoffer Egelund Copenhagen, Denmark
Group Show - Saint Cloche & TDF Melbourne, Australia
Group Show - Garna Gallery Madrid, Spain
Solo Show - Saint Cloche Gallery Sydney, Australia
Solo Show - At The Above Gallery Melbourne, Australia
Group Show - Galleri Christoffer Egelund Copenhagen, Denmark
2022
NA (Individual works) Abstract Mag, United Kingdom 2022
“Trial & Error, Error” (Solo) Saint Cloche Gallery, Australia 2022
Estampa Art Fair Garna Gallery, Spain 2022
“Christmas Group” (Individual works) Benoni Gallery, Denmark 2022
“Last Supper” (Group) Sandberg Gallery, Denmark 2022
“Home & Humble” (Solo) Boom Gallery, Australia 2022
“Running a Muck” (Solo) Uprise NYC Gallery, USA 2022
NA (Individual works) Gallery Red, Spain 2022
NA (Individual works) Benoni Gallery, Denmark 2022
“Metro Summer” (Group) Metro Gallery, Australia 2022
“Make the mark” (Solo) Uprise NYC Gallery, USA 2022
“Glimpse” (Group) Side Gallery, Australia 2022
NA (Individual works) Gregg Irby Gallery, USA 2022
NA (Individual works) Gallery Red, Spain 2022
2021
“Heavy Harmony” (Solo) Saint Cloche Gallery, Australia 2021
“Until I return” (Online artist series) Uprise NYC Gallery, USA 2021
“Only One In The Room” (Solo) Metro Gallery, Australia 2021
“Metro Summer” (Group) Metro Gallery, Australia 2021
2020
“Metro Summer” (Group) Metro Gallery, Australia 2020
“Talismans Rafts, Mementos” (Group) Modern Times, Australia 2020
“Family Ties” (Online artist series) Uprise NYC Gallery, USA 2020
“Secret Garden” (Group) Saint Cloche, Australia 2020
“Reckless” (Solo) Saint Cloche, Australia 2020
2019
“Gathering” (Joint) Koskela, Australia 2019
“Calm Stumble” (Joint) Modern Times, Australia 2019
“Ritual Practice” (Group) Modern Times, Australia 2019
2018
“Balance” (Solo) Tacit Gallery, Australia 2018
“Selected Works” (Group) Boom Gallery, Australia 2018
“Newest & Rising” (Group) Modern Times, Australia 2018