For John Nelson, painting is a form of spiritual practice—a journey to a place where logic and intellect dissolve into an intuitive order. He is passionate about creating images that evoke a sense of duality, capturing those unseen realities that we can somehow feel. Nelson’s intent is to connect on a subconscious level with those who share a similar aesthetic and perception, inviting viewers to explore the deeper layers of their own intuition through his work.

John Randall Nelson’s work features characteristics of Pop Art and Folk Art combined with a whimsical, illustrative style. The vibrant colors, cartoonish figures, and playful yet surreal scenes suggest influences from Pop Art, which often plays with commercial imagery, while the simplicity and rawness evoke Folk Art traditions. The artwork is stylized and abstracted, giving it a narrative or symbolic quality, much like storytelling. These elements make the work feel playful, yet there's an undercurrent of deeper meaning or commentary.

"Many of the figures that John Randall Nelson scrawls across his mixed-media, collaged backgrounds have the naive quality of outsider art, but this is just part of his carefully calibrated balancing act. These sly paintings conjure cartoons, found signage, and modern hieroglyphs, and tie them all together with lusciously patinated surfaces. Whether he is working with crayon on paper or paint on panel, Nelson creates layers and textures that give the works a sense of history.”

- Kathryn M. Davis, ART NEWS.

Press:

Shoutout Arizona

Bold Journey

Luxe

Novum Artis Issues