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Artists · Will St. John

Will St. John

Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1983. Lives and works in New York City. He trained in classical realism in Italy in his early years.

Published by ArtisDomus, written by Polina Surina.

Will St. John, portrait.
Will St. John.
01/03
An oil painting of a smiling young face with dark brows, pale skin and long waved blonde hair, cropped close on the eyes and mouth.
Pl. 01 Will St. John. Cat Girl, 2025. Oil on wood panel, 27.9 × 35.6 cm. Detail.

Biography

Trained in classical realism in Italy. He paints only in oil.

Will St. John was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1983, and he lives and works in New York City. In his early years he learned the techniques of classical realism in Italy. He paints only in oil, and in 2011 he took up a residency at the American Academy in Rome.

His subjects are drag queens and trans models, combined with antique porcelain figurines. Cat Girl, 2025, is oil on wood panel and measures 27.9 × 35.6 cm. From 2020 to 2023 he showed in London, New York and Los Angeles. His work is in the public collection of the New Salem Museum and Academy of Fine Art, Massachusetts.

Born
1983, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Based
New York City
Training
Classical realism techniques, learned in Italy in his early years.
Medium
Oil only.
Subjects
Paintings of drag queens and trans models, combined with antique porcelain figurines.
Public collections
New Salem Museum and Academy of Fine Art, Massachusetts.
Residencies
American Academy in Rome, Rome, 2011.
Exhibitions
A selection from 2020 to 2023.
02/03

Exhibitions

Exhibitions in London, New York and Los Angeles, from 2020 to 2023.

2023
  • Will St. John, Saatchi Yates, London, England
2022
  • Ride the Tiger, Cealum Gallery, New York, United States
  • The Patriot, O’Flaherty’s, New York, United States
  • Spring Break Art Fair, New York, United States
2020
  • Portraits 2020, Arcadia Contemporary, Los Angeles, United States
03/03

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