Jordan Watson: Octavia's Butler
Robilant+Voena
22 days left
Robilant+Voena is pleased to announce an exhibition of paintings by American artist Jordan Watson, entitled 'Octavia’s Butler', and inaugurating R+V’s new gallery space in Milan. This is the first time that the artist will show his paintings in a dedicated exhibition, marking the official public debut of a visual artist who has already received widespread recognition for his work promoting access and dismantling barriers to the art world through his art platform Love Watts (@love.watts).
‘My paintings celebrate Black excellence, where luxury and leisure are not aspirations but a natural state of being, rooted in our history and future.'
Largely self-taught, Watson has honed his craft through years of immersion in the art world. His paintings draw on Afrofuturism, a movement blending science fiction and Black culture to imagine a future of Black excellence and prosperity. Watson’s work portrays Black men and especially women participating in activities such as cycling, skiing, and motorsports – fields that have historically seen limited Black participation.
As Milan prepares for the Winter Olympics, the paintings in the exhibition blend the city’s stylish identity with a message that chimes with the potential of such international sporting events to bring people together, while also encapsulating the joy of active participation as expressed through the artist’s vibrant handling of paint.
Jordan Watson, There's no second place, 2023, Oil on canvas.
On his subjects
Watsons's new and recent work showcases the artist's signature bold figurative style that oozes with poise, elegance and athleticism. Watson’s application of colour evokes the Fauves or colourists, his dreamlike landscapes reminiscent of Edvard Munch or Peter Doig, creating alluring settings for his lithe, powerful figures. These paintings also echo contemporary artists such as Kerry James Marshall and Henry Taylor, foregrounding Black men and women and celebrating the Black experience.
Jordan Watson, Ice, ice baby, 2024, Oil on canvas.
Watson’s protagonists, exuding an understated confidence, are not portraits of real individuals but rather anonymous figures who conjure a sentiment, picturing a world that the artist wishes to see; one painting shows a Black female Formula 1 driver – a scenario that has not yet happened but which, in the artist’s ideal, will be a firm reality in the near future.
Jordan Watson, Side eye Sadie, 2023, Oil on canvas.
Whether motorsports, mountain pursuits or tennis, Watson creates beguiling images of luxury and joy, his figures engaging with activities that are also indicative of glamour and wealth.
‘My paintings celebrate Black excellence, where luxury and leisure are not aspirations but a natural state of being, rooted in our history and future. Each brushstroke affirms these characteristics as integral to Black excellence, reflecting a life lived in freedom and fullness’
Installation View; Jordan Watson - Octavia's Butler, Robilant+Voena, Milan, 2024.
On his exhibition
'The title is a tribute to legendary sci-fi author Octavia E. Butler who deeply influenced me. Butler’s exploration of Afrofuturism and Black excellence mirrors what I strive to achieve in my art. Just as her novels, like Parable of the Sower, can shift from reflective scenes to vivid, evocative moments, my paintings oscillate between simplicity and bursts of expressive imagery. I often depict Black wealth and luxury - a visual celebration of the success that Butler herself deserves.'
Jordan Watson, Lucien will love this, 2024, Oil on canvas.
And on Jordan
Born 1979 in Jamaica, Queens, NYC, Jordan is a self-taught artist and curator and also part of the Ultra Contemporary Afrofuturism art movement along with Rick Lowe, Mark Bradford, Nathaniel Mary Quinn, Tschabalala Self and Noah Davis.
Throughout several social media platforms, Watts has amassed a cult like following consisting of over 5 million art collectors, mega galleries, trendsetters such as Gagosian, Artsy, Simon de Pury, Guy Oseary to name a few.
Jordan Watson, 2024.
Jordan's works, exploring identity, community, memory, and imagination are replete with art historical references to modernism, surrealism, ‘80s/’90s graffiti, Kerry James Marshall, Peter Doig, Francis Bacon and others as well as Afrofuturism; incorporating science-fiction, technology, and futuristic elements into his practice. Yet his process is ultimately very personal, drawing from memories, experiences and traumas growing up in south side Jamaica, Queens and world travels as an adult.
Installation View; Jordan Watson - Octavia's Butler, Robilant+Voena, Milan, 2024.
'Octavia's Butler' by Jordan Watson, is on view at R+V Milan, Via della Spiga 1, from 20 November - 17 January.
