Art and Art History

John Whitten is a multidisciplinary artist who employs a combination of drawing and digital tools to explore the interplay between technology, materiality, and the human experience. His work delves into the philosophical implications of navigating the vast sea of signals and noise that saturate our world. While focusing primarily on landscapes, John utilizes digital photographic techniques and painstaking drawing methods to experiment with the fragmentation of pixelated visual spaces. These artworks prioritize emotional impact over efficiency, inviting viewers to engage thoughtfully with digital images that are often consumed casually. They seek to cultivate moments of meditative reflection, prompting contemplation on themes such as time, labor, and the creative process.

Whitten’s work has been exhibited nationally in New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Nashville, Austin, and throughout the Pacific Northwest. He has been the recipient of numerous grants, residencies, and awards, which include a Project Grant from the Regional Art and Culture Council, a Career Opportunity Grant from the Oregon Arts Commission, a Faculty Research Award from Oregon State University, a residency with Signal Fire funded by the Regional Arts and Culture Council, and a residency at Caldera funded by the Ford Family Foundation. Whitten co-founded the artist-collective galleries Well Well Projects and Carnation Contemporary and the artist-collective project Thunderstruck. He is an art educator and web developer with his home and studio located in Portland, OR.