Julian V.L. Gaines

Russo Lee Gallery is pleased to present Seen, Not Heard by Julian V.L. Gaines. For this exhibition, Gaines has created 11 large-scale paintings that depict the history documented and women celebrated on the covers of JET magazine throughout the 1950s and 60s. As a child, JET magazine was an integral part of his culture. Gaines states that, “the pocket-sized magazines were collected by my mother in a woven basket in the corner of our living room”. Deeply aware of the thought-provoking nature of his work, Gaines continues to captivate the viewer by addressing activism, education, and telling stories that need to be told.

Originally from Chicago, Julian V.L. Gaines now lives and works in Portland, Oregon. He received his BFA in Drawing and Painting from Northern Michigan University in 2015. Gaines collaborated with Nike to create the collection “Game Worn”. As part of the sneaker release, he led a weeklong workshop that included art classes at Chicago’s South Shore Cultural Center. Gaines has received editorials from Northern Magazine, HYPEBEAST, and The New York Times. In December 2020, his artwork was featured on the cover of New York Magazine. His work has been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions, and is in notable private, public, and corporate collections, including NIKE, Beaverton, OR; Portland Art Museum and SoHo House, Portland, OR.

Artist Statement | August 2024

Seen, Not Heard

August 1 – 31, 2024

Press Release