"Jonathan Ralston: Shadows and Enlightenment" exhibit opens
20 North Gallery presents “Shadows and Enlightenment,” paintings by Jonathan Ralston
Solo exhibition of Chicago artist’s architecture-themed masterworks
Toledo, OH—July 7, 2021. 20 North Gallery welcomes a native son of Toledo, Chicago artist Jonathan Ralston, for a solo exhibition of his exquisitely detailed architecture paintings, Jonathan Ralston: Shadows and Enlightenment. The exhibit is comprised of 29 paintings including many new, never-before-displayed works as well as landmark paintings from throughout the artist's career, ranging in canvas sizes reaching up to 5 feet in width or height. The exhibit will open with a public reception on Friday, July 23, from 6 – 9 p.m., featuring a free appetizer buffet and cash bar. The exhibition will continue through September 25, 2021.
In his artist statement Ralston describes his passion for architecture, “The interplay of light, the geometry…and the material (marble, granite, limestone) all combine in a way that I find endlessly fascinating.
Every oil painting that I create depicts a real place, most of which I have personally visited. I prefer to stand in the environment myself. It gives me the mood of a space, which I can then capture in my paintings. The Dutch masters, particularly Rembrandt, have influenced my approach to color and light.
I have visited and painted many places over and over again. When the light changes, the mood and energy also change. I especially love the monolithic scale and grandeur that large gothic and Romanesque structures convey.”
20 North Gallery art director Condessa Croninger states, “Jonathan Ralston’s depictions of architectural elements are not only masterful studies of light and form, but also haunting allegories of the human spirit, as conveyed through the grand spaces we have built.”
Jonathan Ralston (Chicago, Illinois) A native of Toledo, Jonathan Ralston attended Maumee Valley Country Day School. He received his B.A. from Wheaton College (Illinois) in 1992 and has worked as a professional artist since then. Additionally, for 15 years he served as gallery manager for commercial galleries in Naples (Florida) and Martha’s Vineyard (Massachusetts).
Since 2007, Ralston’s paintings have been included in numerous group exhibitions at prestigious commercial galleries including North Water Gallery, Gardner Colby Gallery, Susan Calloway Fine Art (Washington, D.C.) and Eisenhauer Gallery (Edgartown, Massachusetts), as well as at The Baker Museum of Art (Naples, Florida). In 2018, he participated in the international art competition "ArtPrize," held annually in Grand Rapids, Michigan, across multiple venues including the Grand Rapids Art Museum and the The Gerald Ford Presidential Museum. Additionally, his work has been included in the National Oil & Acrylic Painters' Society's (NOAPS) "2018 Spring International On-Line Exhibition" as well as the NOAPS "Holiday Small Works" exhibit in 2017.
Ralston is represented at North Water Gallery (Edgartown, Massachusetts) and Gardner Colby Gallery (Naples, Florida). His work is included in multiple corporate collections and published in "100 Boston Painters" (Chawky Frenn, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 2012).
He has enjoyed numerous solo exhibitions at North Water Gallery (Edgartown, Massachusetts) in addition to a solo exhibit, "Structures and Spaces" at Old Town Triangle Association (Chicago, Illinois) in 2017. In 2019, he was honored by his alma mater with a solo exhibit at the Wolfe Gallery, Maumee Valley Country Day School (Toledo, Ohio).
20 North Gallery and the artist will be welcoming friends and collectors at the free Public Reception for Jonathan Ralston: Shadows and Enlightenment on Friday, July 23, 2021 from 6 – 9 p.m.
An online exhibition catalogue and price list for “Jonathan Ralston: Shadows and Enlightenment,” containing art images of the full exhibit and artist information, will be posted on the 20 North Gallery website prior to the exhibition opening at https://20northgallery.com/shadows-and-enlightenment/
What: “Jonathan Ralston: Shadows and Enlightenment” art exhibit
Where: 20 North Gallery, 18 N. St. Clair Street, (Downtown) Toledo, Ohio 43604, 419-241-2400
When: July 23 – September 25, 2021
Gallery Hours
Wednesday – Saturday:
Noon – 4 p.m.
and By Appointment
Free Public Reception — Friday, July 23, 2021, 6 – 9 p.m.
For More Information Contact: Condessa Croninger (Art Director) or visit www.20northgallery.com
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Press Release Contact Name: Condessa Croninger (Art Director)
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Press Release Contact Phone: 419-241-2400
Organization Name: 20 North Gallery
Website or Link: 20northgallery.com
Organization Address / City / State: 18 North St. Clair Street, Toledo, OH 43604