JEFFREY WHITTLE: MYTH, MEMORY, AND THE INTERIOR LANDSCAPE
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Jeffrey Whittle’s paintings unfold like quiet revelations—symbolic narratives suspended between psychological introspection and the mythic spaces of the Southern imagination. Over the past two decades, Whittle has developed a rich visual vocabulary rooted in figuration and metaphor, marked by recurring motifs: twin animals, night skies, flowering plants, and floating vessels. His art, though often dreamlike, is grounded in discipline and tradition—channeling Renaissance structure, Indian miniature symbolism, and Southern storytelling into a body of work that is both intimate and expansive. Whittle’s long relationship with Matney Gallery has played a key role in his mid-career development. His first participation was in Art House on City Square (2013), a landmark exhibition that temporarily converted Williamsburg’s historic city council chambers into a contemporary gallery. Organized by the Linda Matney Gallery in collaboration with the City of Williamsburg, the project spotlighted leading Southern voices including Whittle, Kent Knowles, and Art Rosenbaum. Whittle’s contribution signaled his alignment with a new generation of Southern artists whose work blurs the lines between personal mythology and regional identity.
Jeffrey Whittle in his studio (left) and Wisteria (Fireflies), mixed media on canvas, 48×60, 2024, The Landscape and Current Midtown, 2024
