BIOGRAPHY
John Jonas received his BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1996, he also studied
at the Arts Students League of New York. His work has been exhibited widely, including the
de Young Museum, the Sanchez Art Center, Rene di Rosa Off the Preserve, the Grace
Cathedral in San Francisco, the Herndon Gallery at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio,
Pro Arts in Oakland, CA, the Galleria G8, Montecastello di Vibio (near Perugia), Italy and the
San Francisco Main Library. He has maintained a studio in the Benicia Arsenal since 1994.
EDUCATION
BFA, San Francisco Art Institute
BS, San Francisco State University
Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio
China National Academy of Fine Arts, Hangzhou, China
The Arts Students League of New York
EXHIBITIONS
2016 Arts Benicia, Benicia, CA, Art of a Community
2015 Arts Benicia, Benicia, CA, Why Make Art
Cafe Arrivederci, San Rafael, CA, Silence, a solo exhibition
Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA, Peoples
2014 Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA, Here
Arts Benicia, Benicia, CA, Art of a Community
2013 Blue Line Arts Gallery, Roseville, CA, Bold in Black and White
Café Arrivederci, San Rafael, CA, Dreams, Digs and Deconstruction, a solo exhibition
2012 Cosa Agostino Giafferi, Poggio di Venaco (near Corta), Corsica, France, Connexions:
California- Corsica, (a collaboration with Marty Jonas )
Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA, Wonder
Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, CA, Art of a Community
2011 Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA, Shine
Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, CA, Gems
2010 Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA, National 2010 Juried Exhibition
The Warehouse Gallery, Oakland, CA
Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, CA, Small Works
UC Berkeley Extension, San Francisco, CA, Portrait Exhibition
Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, CA, The Art of a Community
2009 Visual Arts, San Francisco, CA, Big Blue Deal
Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz, CA, The National Drawing & Sculpture Exhibit
Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz, CA, Beasts on Broadway Animals Galore
2008 Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, CA, “Soupcon: A Small Works Show
Fairfield Center for Creative Arts, Fairfield, CA, 45th Regional Juried Art Show
Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, CA, The Art of a Community
2007 Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA, Elder Arts Celebrations
Fairfield Center for Creative Arts, Fairfield, CA, 44th Regional Juried Art Show
Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA, 2007 Members’ Showcase
Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, CA, The Art of a Community
The Main ARTery Gallery, Benicia, CA, Where the Wild Things Are
2006 Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA, Showcase 2006
Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, CA, The Art of a Community
2005 The de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA, 2005 Elder Arts Celebration, at the
opening of the new de Young Museum
Fairfield Center for Creative Arts, Fairfield, CA, 43rd Annual Regional Juried Art Show
Galleria G8, Montecastello di Vibio (near Perugia), Italy, Mostra di Pittura e Scultura
Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA, The Hiroshima and Nagasaki 60th
Anniversary Commemoration
San Francisco Art Institute, Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Elder Arts
Celebration
600 Townsend Center, San Francisco, CA, Painting and Sculpture Exhibition
Galarie Shokat, Oakland, CA, Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, Lolo Khan, curator
Marin Society of Artists, Ross, CA. Open Craft & Sculpture Exhibition
2004 Rene di Rosa Off The Preserve, Napa, CA, 2004 Elder Arts Celebration
Fairfield Center for Creative Arts, Fairfield, CA, 42nd Annual Regional Juried Art Show
Galleria G8, Montecastello di Vibio (near Perugia), Italy, Mostra di Pittura e Scultura
Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA, BACA Showcase 2004
2003 Fairfield Center for Creative Arts, Fairfield, CA, 41st Regional Juried Art Show
San Francisco Main Library, Jewett Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2003 Elder Arts Celebration
2002 Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, CA, Art of a Community
2001 Jeannie Brewer Gallery, San Francisco, CA, An Exhibition of Drawing and Painting
2000 Herndon Gallery, Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio
1999 Pro Arts, Oakland, CA, Pro Arts Introductions ’99, for emerging California artists
Benicia Public Library, Benicia, CA, Beveled Edge Press -- an Exhibition of Etchings,
Monotypes and Woodcuts
1998 Fairfield Community Center, Fairfield, CA.36thAnnual Regional Juried Art Show
1997 Fairfield Community Center, Fairfield, CA, 35thAnnual Regional Juried Art Show
Prudential California Gallery, Benicia, CA, An Exhibition of Benicia Artists
1996 Bay Front Gallery, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA, San Francisco Art Institute – BFA
Senior Show
1995 China National Academy of Fine Arts, Hangzhou, China, An Exhibition of Art
Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, CA, Mixed Blessings/ Aging and Wisdom
Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco Art Institute, Student Exhibition
1994 Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, Ca, Meet the Makers
Fairfield Community Center, Fairfield, CA, 32nd Annual Regional Juried Art Show
1993 Solano Community College, Suisun, CA, Fall Exhibition
Bibliography
Benicia Patch, Artist Profile: John Jonas, Benicia, CA, September 19, 2011
Hedi B. Desuyo, Why Make Art, Twenty Five Benicia Artists Respond, Benicia, CA, 2015
Fairfield Visual Arts Association, Jurors Comment: Artist John Jonas, Fairfield, CA, November 2004
Faught, Judith, Skip the Computer Screen; View the Real Thing, Preview: 36th Annual
Fairfield Juried Show, Daily Republic, Fairfield, CA, November 13, 1998
Hansen, Accountant Turns Artist in Solano County, Editorial Page, Solano Times,
Concord, CA, February 1, 1996
Jacobson, Catherine D., Art Enters Man’s Life Once More, Solano Times, Concord,
CA, February 1, 1996
Jonas, John, Silence, the Pause that Refreshes, View Point: Ideas for Our Imagination, Wow!, San
Rafael, CA, April 2015
Paisley, Michelle, The Arts: Novice to Noted Will Exhibit Artwork in 2nd Annual ‘Art of a
Community’, Benicia Herald, Benicia, CA, November 24, 1995
Schlossberg, Brandi, Open Studios All Across the Town, Benicia Herald, Benicia, CA,
May 4, 2001
Steele, Nancy, “Art of a Community”, Arts Benicia Artifact, February 1996
HONORS AND AWARDS
2010 Merit Award, National 2010 Juried Exhibition, Sebastopol Center for the Arts,
Sebastopol, CA, juror: Maria Medua, Director of Artists Gallery SFMOMA
2009 Honorable Mentioned, Beasts on Broadway, Animals Galore, Santa Cruz Art League,
Santa Cruz, CA, juror: George Rivera, Executive Director of the Triton Museum of Art
2008 Third Place Drawing, 45th Annual Regional Juried Art Show, Fairfield Center for
Creative Arts, Fairfield, CA
2005 The de Young Museum, 2005 Elder Arts Celebrations, selected as one of twenty
artists to an exhibition at the opening of the new de Young Museum, San Francisco,
CA, October 2005
2004 Honorable Mentioned, BACA Showcase, Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA
Second Place Painting Oil and Acrylics, 42nd Annual Regional Juried Art Show,
Fairfield Center for Creative Arts, Fairfield, CA
1999 Selected to Pro Arts 1999 Introductions for emerging California artists, Oakland, CA.
juror: Rupert Garcia
1998 Honorable Mentioned, 36th Regional Juried Art Show, Fairfield Center for Creative
Arts, Fairfield, Ca
RESIDENCIES
2005 International School of Painting, Drawing and Sculpture, Montecastello di Vibio,
Umbria, Italy
2004 International School of Painting, Drawing and Sculpture, Montecastello di Vibio,
Umbria, Italy