Jammie Holmes: Somwhereinamerica

Various Small Fires is pleased to introduce a solo show of new works by Dallas-based artist Jammie Holmes. Somwhereinamerica includes paintings, sculptures, and watercolors and is Holmes' first show with Various Small Fires.

Jammie Holmes, a self-taught artist, illuminates themes of community, tradition, class, authenticity, resilience, and the realities of Black American life in his work. He combines personal memories, family portraits, art historical references, figures from American history, and everyday cultural references into poetic, tender, sometimes surreal, and always deeply human artworks.

In this body of work, Holmes reflects on a desire for belonging. He paints interior scenes that illustrate the humble domestic settings he grew up in, as seen in Picture that in 2022, 2022. Holmes renders these tableaux with a sense of deep care and nostalgia, emphasizing the role these places play in forming identity. The artist contrasts these scenes with ones that nod to luxury and opulence. He paints suited men drinking from wine glasses and glistening gold sculptures as symbols of success. He also includes racially charged objects, like mammies and black flowers with Jim Crow-era facial features, that point to the complexities of power. These objects and titles like Still at the wrong table, 2022, suggest how Holmes grapples with acceptance as he navigates success in a setting that is ultimately foreign. 

 Holmes creates work from the Black American perspective but likens his mindset to the experience of minority groups across the country. His paintings arise from his specific memories but are suffused with empathy for human beings of all backgrounds. Somewhere in America exists an individual who is reflecting on their place in society, just as Holmes does in these artworks.