Connections 2 (2005)

About the Artist:
Born May, 27th 1981, in Lena Wisconsin, Jon Wos was diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, better known as brittle bones. His childhood was filled with fractures, body castes, surgeries, and hospitals. Jon would spend most of his time in bed drawing or making something with his hands. As a result of studies at the National Institutes of Health, Jon got to go to Washington D.C. every 3-4 months, thus expanding his world and horizons.

When Jon Wos got involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation he knew art was more than a hobby. Jon had his wish to go to Disney world with my family granted. When he got back, he drew the Disney castle and donated the work to Make-a-Wish so they could auction it during their first Christmas extravaganza. A feature story in the newspaper and the fact that his work was auctioned off for a good price gave Jon confidence in his artistic ability. With the help of his art teachers, Jon started entering small shows and contests, and as a freshman in high school, received best of show in a student art contest. More important than the small cash award, Jon’s work would hang in the U.S. capitol for one year.

For the first time in his life Jon was going to D.C. for something other than his disability. It wouldn’t be the last. In May of 2005, Jon Wos graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with a bachelor of Fine Art with an emphasis in drawing, and sculpture.

Artist's Statement:
Due to my disability, I know time is something I cannot take for granted. Therefore I use my time to the fullest and push my art as far as I can, always keeping in mind that my gift could be taken away at any time. When I began drawing, the images used to be from my head, and I would never know what they meant. Now I feel I have more control over my concepts and can relate them better with my life. The calm and flowing style, which I have adopted into my art, can always be seen no matter if I use clay, glass, paint, or pencil. This has shown me that the medium no longer inhibits my vision, and is only the physical tool that I bring intangible ideas to life.

This collection of pieces is my expression of giving in to life. I no longer use my time to complain about life or ignore its truths. I use art to explore and make sense of life and my personal identity. Through exploring my life with creating, art has become my life, and not only a way of expression.

The one thing that I hope people take out of my art is the fact that we make our own reality, and we can either make it a positive or a negative place. I try to convey this in my pieces with surreal and realistic images combined. This way the onlooker is attracted to the representational, inviting them to see my ideas through the surreal.

Exhibitions: