Hailing from the city of Minneapolis, artist Jack Winthrop is working towards bringing the traditional medium of painting in line with the contemporary movements like graffiti art, some would say as a descendant of artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat. His new collection of work, titled “Wounded Healer,” is autobiographical in nature, following his story and translating it into obscured and colorful visual representations.

Winthrop will be the focus of his first-ever solo show to be held at the Gabba Gallery in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 9. The show, which is titled “The Wounded Healer,” focuses on Winthrop’s own personal account of addiction and recovery, capturing the chaos of suffering as well as the process of healing through his struggle. The show will be on view from October 9 until October 30, 2021.

“There is a mirror like component when observing my own work. It reflects my journey with addiction, ecstasy, suffering, sobriety, recovery, our humanness and most of all hope. It feels as though I’ve lived many lifetimes,” Winthrop writes on his website. “The pain of living these lives inspires my ability to create.”

Some could even call his work reparative, in the sense that he’s taking the negativity, the concepts and events that wound us, and metamorphosing them into something beneficial and healing. An alchemy that uses societal malaise as the main ingredient towards progression.

“Wounded Healer” utilizes imagery reminiscent of flowers, the human form, symbolism and typography in order to fully exemplify the narrative expressed in Winthrop’s paintings. Bold colors juxtaposed against black and white backgrounds make for an instantly recognizable and stunning visual experience, compelling both in form and in story.

“I’m interested in the metamorphosis of rebirth or redemption as the past fades. Life and death, drug abuse, OD’s, healing through suffering, truth, symbols of arrows eternally piercing, a trapped heart, ladders and doorways to liberation – these are reoccurring themes that replicate themselves within the paintings,” Winthrop said. “Ultimately these ‘“windows” or perceptions reveal a search for meaning upon deep introspection. The rhetoric/commentary in my artworks allude to these abundant experiences as well. This art is who I am, authentically and unadulterated.”

Winthrop sat down and took some time to answer GRAZIA’s questions about his inspirations, his artwork and his first solo show.

You work a lot with the combination of traditional painting and graffiti art, could you talk about how the contemporary graffiti movement, started by people like Jean-Michel Basquiat has inspired your work, and additionally, what other inspirations do you look to? 

What I appreciate about Basquiat or Keith Haring is how they elevated what to most people was deemed vandalism or “graffiti” to an artform that really connected, and was taken seriously as thought-provoking “real art”, during a time where the art world dismissed the medium all together.  

The street art we see today at Art Basel or beyond the streets evolved from the mecca and birthplace of grafitti art in New York. Going to school and living in New York was an inspiration in itself, I believe cities or urban environments definitely influence the imagery and suggestions I make with a brush.  

Your work in “Wounded Healer” seems to draw from a place that seeks a sort of reparative nature from your own experiences, how do you think art can act as a force for good in turbulent political and personal times both on the individual scale and on a societal scale? 

There is real purpose and permanence to creating art and making a statement. It transcends time as sort of a decree through the power of story-telling, documenting, and imagery.  

Many times, I believe art has an accessibility and relatability that the people can connect with on a personal level for change and progress, this gives art its power. Personally, and specifically for “The Wounded Healer” series, art has been the catalyst to recognize and heal my own wounds. A cathartic movement towards growth and acceptance. The wounds eventually become the inspiration, the gift. Hopefully that gift speaks to someone through the genesis of my paintings. 

What are you looking forward to most about your first solo show?

I am looking forward to seeing other people enjoy and talk about my art. That will be a first. I’m interested in the experience the audience has with it, what it provokes for someone else?  

It’s an intimate moment when the observer looks at a piece of art, it’s very personal, you can’t replicate that with anything other than art in my opinion. 

You seem very interested in the idea of liberation based on what I’ve read on your website, what does liberation mean to you? 

It’s really simple. For a long time I was stuck. That was accompanied by hopelessness. Now, I don’t feel that way. I’m finally free from the prison I had undoubtedly created for myself. That is liberation.