Detroit Visual Artist Jonathan Harris On Doing Something Innovative

This time last year’ visual artist Jonathan Harris was moved to create an image that reflected his state of mind, ‘Critical Race Theory,’ went viral propelling his work to international eyes. Now reaping the success; Harris is selling and creating new work, curating others in a partnered Pontiac gallery and envisioning a future that embodies both.

“What you have to understand is that around this time (2021) [ the conversation around] ‘Critical Race Theory’ was literally just everywhere. Stay-at-home-[White] moms would protest and rally against ‘Critical Race Theory’ because they didn’t have a job; (not) like the Black parents. They couldn’t even go through this stuff because they were working two or three jobs.” explains Harris.  “So that’s how they (Moms) were able to bring a lot of noise and get things (removed from schools) to change. That privilege alone, allowed the whole movement {Critical Race Theory-controversy} to start. I wanted to do something about it; as an artist; try to figure out how to change something that I really care about.”

On his journey to continue creating artwork that made social change, Harris was inspired by an early conversation with Detroit gallery owner (Harper Galleries located on 173 E. Grand Blvd in Detroit) & Co-founder, Detroit artist collective, Detroit Fine Arts Breakfast Club, Henry Harper. “You got to do something that’s innovative.” 

Motivated by Detroit, Harris produces new pieces of artwork at his studio in Corktown; sharing portraits of Black people that speak to his mindset.“I just wanted to create something in my work to reflect how I felt. I really care about black people, our history. and if that’s what I’m called to do, absolutely, I do.” 

Harris took a bold step as an independent artist and recently opened a gallery art space, to bridge the affluent county Oakland with the talent of Detroit’s a visual artist; Gallery 46 is located at N. Saginaw St. in Pontiac. “I started as an artist, I know artists, I know how it feels….It’s kind of hard,” Harris admits. “How much time do you really have to put towards basically other people’s dreams? I got Gallery 46 for other artists to show their work. I want to do more. I haven’t done as much as I wanted to but I want to do more.”

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Harris is currently producing a holiday exhibition at Gallery 46 in association with the Detroit Fine Arts Breakfast Club. To purchase fine art prints of “Critical Race Theory and to learn more about Jon Harris, visit jonathanharrisart.bigcartel.com. 

Lens-based media artist and independent curator, Laura D. Gibson curated and conducted the interview for this profile. Gibson’s work focuses on her familial ties to the city in relation to memory, storytelling, space and displacement. She uses video, audio, and performance to dissect ways of maneuvering the city as a woman of color while documenting and examining the notions of intimacy in reflecting on space and the idea of home.