Smalltown Boy

Archival Pigment on Paper

40 x 40 in (102 x 102 cm)

About The Artwork

“Smalltown Boy” portrays a thoughtful young man gazing distantly. His brown hair and fair complexion contrast with a vivid blue, calm background. His purple and green attire complements floral motifs, creating overall harmony. The artist skilfully blends realism with a contemporary, illustrative style through color and texture.

Jon Pannier’s series for our “Muscle Memory” exhibition delves into violence against the LGBTQIA+ community from the 1980s to the present. As a young gay man who moved to New York in 1989, Pannier was profoundly impacted by rampant gay and trans bashing fueled by fear and homophobia during the AIDS crisis. The series features portraits of gay, lesbian, and gender-nonconforming individuals, all showing visible signs of brutalization.

The floral designs also symbolically nod to the historical connection between flowers and homosexuality, referencing the use of “pansy” as slang and the florist stereotype. Through this juxtaposition, the series underscores the beauty and tragedy in the struggle for acceptance and equality.

$6,000.00

SOLD

Purchase

About the Artist

American artist Jon Pannier explores cultural shifts of the last 50 years in New York. Moreover, his narrative artworks blend symbolism to reveal societal changes.

Selected from Pannier’s Bacchanal Series, these works depict the hedonistic 1970s fueled by pansexuality and drugs. Studio 54 was the backdrop for this era.

Pannier integrates commercial art techniques from his background in pharmaceutical advertising. Based in Manhattan and Jersey City, He creates unique editions using digital and traditional methods.