Jon Key

Suits Me

November 4–December 2, 2022

Installation Views

Suits Me. Installation view, Steve Turner, 2022

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Works

<em>The Nude Man Thinks No. 2</em>, 2022. Acrylic on panel, 60 x 48 inches (152.4 x 121.9 cm)

<em>The Nude Man Waits</em>, 2022. Acrylic on panel, 72 x 48 inches (182.9 x 121.9 cm)

<em>The Nude Man Thinks No. 1</em>, 2022. Acrylic on panel, 60 x 48 inches (152.4 x 121.9 cm)

<em>The Nude Man Looks</em>, 2022. Acrylic on panel, 40 x 30 inches (101.6 x 76.2 cm)

<em>Suit NO 1</em>, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 55 1/2 x 30 x 9 inches (141 x 76.2 x 22.9 cm)

<em>Suit NO 1</em>, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 55 1/2 x 30 x 9 inches (141 x 76.2 x 22.9 cm) Detail

<em>Suit NO 2</em>, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 39 1/2 x 28 x 13 inches (100.3 x 71.1 x 33 cm)

<em>Suit NO 2</em>, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 39 1/2 x 28 x 13 inches (100.3 x 71.1 x 33 cm) Detail

<em>Suit NO 3</em>, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 55 x 23 x 9 inches (139.7 x 58.4 x 22.9 cm)

<em>Suit NO 3</em>, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 55 x 23 x 9 inches (139.7 x 58.4 x 22.9 cm) Detail

<em>Violet Space No. 4</em>, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 24 1/4 x 18 1/2 inches (61.6 x 47 cm)

<em>Violet Space No. 3</em>, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 24 1/4 x 18 1/2 inches (61.6 x 47 cm)

<em>Violet Space No. 1</em>, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 10 1/4 x 8 1/2 inches (26 x 21.6 cm)

<em>Park</em>, 2022. Digital print (Unique), 24 x 36 inches (61 x 91.4 cm) 31 1/2 x 41 1/2 inches (80 x 105.4 cm) Framed

<em>Subway Stairs</em>, 2022. Digital print (Unique), 24 x 36 inches (61 x 91.4 cm) 31 1/2 x 41 1/2 inches (80 x 105.4 cm) Framed

<em>Backyard</em>, 2022. Digital print (Unique), 18 x 24 inches (45.7 x 61 cm) 31 1/2 x 25 1/2 inches (80 x 64.8 cm) Framed

<em>Street (Centre)</em>, 2022. Digital print (Unique), 18 x 24 inches (45.7 x 61 cm)25 1/2 x 31 1/2 inches (64.8 x 80 cm) Framed

<em>Street No. 2 (Centre)</em>, 2022. Digital print (Unique), 18 x 24 inches (45.7 x 61 cm) 25 1/2 x 31 1/2 inches (64.8 x 80 cm) Framed

<em>Subway</em>, 2022. Digital print (Unique), 18 x 24 inches (45.7 x 61 cm) 31 1/2 x 25 1/2 inches (80 x 64.8 cm) Framed

The Nude Man Thinks No. 2, 2022. Acrylic on panel, 60 x 48 inches (152.4 x 121.9 cm)

The Nude Man Waits, 2022. Acrylic on panel, 72 x 48 inches (182.9 x 121.9 cm)

The Nude Man Thinks No. 1, 2022. Acrylic on panel, 60 x 48 inches (152.4 x 121.9 cm)

The Nude Man Looks, 2022. Acrylic on panel, 40 x 30 inches (101.6 x 76.2 cm)

Suit NO 1, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 55 1/2 x 30 x 9 inches (141 x 76.2 x 22.9 cm)

Suit NO 1, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 55 1/2 x 30 x 9 inches (141 x 76.2 x 22.9 cm) Detail

Suit NO 2, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 39 1/2 x 28 x 13 inches (100.3 x 71.1 x 33 cm)

Suit NO 2, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 39 1/2 x 28 x 13 inches (100.3 x 71.1 x 33 cm) Detail

Suit NO 3, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 55 x 23 x 9 inches (139.7 x 58.4 x 22.9 cm)

Suit NO 3, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 55 x 23 x 9 inches (139.7 x 58.4 x 22.9 cm) Detail

Violet Space No. 4, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 24 1/4 x 18 1/2 inches (61.6 x 47 cm)

Violet Space No. 3, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 24 1/4 x 18 1/2 inches (61.6 x 47 cm)

Violet Space No. 1, 2022. Jacquard woven wool and polyester, 10 1/4 x 8 1/2 inches (26 x 21.6 cm)

Park, 2022. Digital print (Unique), 24 x 36 inches (61 x 91.4 cm) 31 1/2 x 41 1/2 inches (80 x 105.4 cm) Framed

Subway Stairs, 2022. Digital print (Unique), 24 x 36 inches (61 x 91.4 cm) 31 1/2 x 41 1/2 inches (80 x 105.4 cm) Framed

Backyard, 2022. Digital print (Unique), 18 x 24 inches (45.7 x 61 cm) 31 1/2 x 25 1/2 inches (80 x 64.8 cm) Framed

Street (Centre), 2022. Digital print (Unique), 18 x 24 inches (45.7 x 61 cm)25 1/2 x 31 1/2 inches (64.8 x 80 cm) Framed

Street No. 2 (Centre), 2022. Digital print (Unique), 18 x 24 inches (45.7 x 61 cm) 25 1/2 x 31 1/2 inches (64.8 x 80 cm) Framed

Subway, 2022. Digital print (Unique), 18 x 24 inches (45.7 x 61 cm) 31 1/2 x 25 1/2 inches (80 x 64.8 cm) Framed

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Steve Turner is pleased to present Suits Me, a solo exhibition by Jon Key that features his first textile works and photographs alongside a selection of new paintings that focus on the artist’s distinctive sartorial splendor. According to Key, the suit stands in as an armor of agency, self-expression and protection. The violet threads weave together family histories, secrets, and love.

A community is stitched into these suits. A layer of protection is embedded in these suits. So too are coded messages that mean something to those who understand the language. I first depicted a violet suit in a painting in 2016. By creating an actual violet patterned suit now, whether you find it garish or tacky, eccentric or Queer, I want you to notice it. It shines. It reflects. It absorbs. It deflects. You will see it.

I did not choose to wear this suit. I was born with it. I was born with dark violet skin. Strange. As I matured, my shirt sleeves and pant legs took form. As my heart grew large, violet veins stitched and weaved bespoke. A gift.

Jon Key (born 1990, Seale, Alabama) earned a BFA at Rhode Island School of Design (2013) before moving to Brooklyn where he began developing his studio and design practices. He has had solo and two-person exhibitions at Carl Freedman Gallery, Margate (2022); Steve Turner, Los Angeles (2019, 2020 & 2021); Rubber Factory, New York (2019) and The Armory Show, New York (2020). Suits Me is Key’s third solo exhibition at Steve Turner.