Artists Space

Jonathan Lyndon Chase
his beard is soft, my hands are empty

September 8 – December 2, 2023

Artists Space is pleased to present his beard is soft, my hands are empty, the first New York institutional solo exhibition of Philadelphia-based multidisciplinary artist Jonathan Lyndon Chase (b. 1989).

A painting in color depicting five Black Queer people within an abstract barbershop environment. The barber to the left of the scene holds clippers to the scalp of one of them positioned in the center. Another barber pictured in the upper right quadrant holds up a pair of shears between two other Black Queer figures with smocked patterning on their barber capes. Sgraffito-like swaths of grid serve as a tiled floor, shown in a floating perspective.
Jonathan Lyndon Chase, City of Beauty, 2023. Courtesy of the artist and Company Gallery, New York. [A painting in color depicting five Black Queer people within an abstract barbershop environment. The barber to the left of the scene holds clippers to the scalp of one of them positioned in the center. Another barber pictured in the upper right quadrant holds up a pair of shears between two other Black Queer figures with smocked patterning on their barber capes. Sgraffito-like swaths of grid serve as a tiled floor, shown in a floating perspective.]

"The domestic is powerful because it’s the foundation of so much we do in our everyday lives. It’s a safe space to allow oneself to just ‘be’ without performing or thinking of the dangers of the outside world."

—Jonathan Lyndon Chase

his beard is soft, my hands are empty presents reimagined versions of environments such as a barbershop and a living room that engender Black Queer interiority, community, and the beauty of everyday intimacy. Combining aspects of the artist’s biography with elements of folklore and fantasy, Chase’s highly spirited, provocative paintings and soft sculptures incorporate materials such as bedsheets and clothing to create an atmosphere of both vulnerability and comfort.

Occupying the entire ground floor of Artists Space, his beard is soft, my hands are empty showcases both newly commissioned and preexisting works. Moving through the exhibition, visitors will encounter paintings, drawings, and soft sculptures whose forms evoke hair clippers, Ultra Sheen Hair Grease jars, and durags. Each doubles as a surface for vibrantly painted and affectionate scenes that portray friends and lovers in familiar settings, at ease and involved in acts of pleasure.

As part of the exhibition, Chase turns the exterior of Artists Space into the facade of a barbershop, complete with its tri-colored barber pole. This transformation emphasizes the complex and delicate threshold between public and private that is particular to Black Queer life. For Chase, domestic space is a locus of self-care and mindfulness, a manifestation of one’s innermost emotions and an extension of the body.

Chase’s immersive installation harnesses the power of memory to map the emotional, mental, and physical territories of the everyday. In their witty, sensual paintings and sculptures, their longing poetry, and their work in other mediums, the artist finds new ways to make the Black Queer body visible.

A color image of the stair landing inside a gallery. The whole image is illuminated in blue, and in the corner rests a large soft sculpture of hair clippers. A long cord connected to the clippers runs vertically up the wall and is draped to the other side. The outlet rests in the air, next to a windowsill.
Jonathan Lyndon Chase: his beard is soft, my hands are empty. Installation view (clippers, 2023), Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color image of the stair landing inside a gallery. The whole image is illuminated in blue, and in the corner rests a large soft sculpture of hair clippers. A long cord connected to the clippers runs vertically up the wall and is draped to the other side. The outlet rests in the air, next to a windowsill.]
A color image of four large paintings hanging on a white wall. In the paintings, queer black bodies interact with each other in different settings, such as a hair supply store. Drawn directly on the wall, roses, a hand, a ring and other elements surround the paintings. At the center of the image, hair accesories sit on the floor.
Jonathan Lyndon Chase: his beard is soft, my hands are empty. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color image of four large paintings hanging on a white wall. In the paintings, queer black bodies interact with each other in different settings, such as a hair supply store. Drawn directly on the wall, roses, a hand, a ring and other elements surround the paintings. At the center of the image, hair accesories sit on the floor.]
A color image of a gallery space divided by two walls, with columns running down the middle. There are multple paintings and drawings hanging on the walls. In the center of the back room, a black-and-white checkered floor. To the right, an A-frame sign with the words "Barber Shop." Another space, on the right, is illuminated with blue light.
Jonathan Lyndon Chase: his beard is soft, my hands are empty. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color image of a gallery space divided by two walls, with columns running down the middle. There are multple paintings and drawings hanging on the walls. In the center of the back room, a black-and-white checkered floor. To the right, an A-frame sign with the words "Barber Shop." Another space, on the right, is illuminated with blue light.]
A color image of a gallery space. To the left of the image, on the foreground, a white wall with a window and a drawing of a parked car. The driver is speaking with a figure that leans on the car. Through the window, a painting of three figures is visible. In the background, four works hang on a black wall. In the center of the room, a black couch and a table in the shape of a body.
Jonathan Lyndon Chase: his beard is soft, my hands are empty. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color image of a gallery space. To the left of the image, on the foreground, a white wall with a window and a drawing of a parked car. The driver is speaking with a figure that leans on the car. Through the window, a painting of three figures is visible. In the background, four works hang on a black wall. In the center of the room, a black couch and a table in the shape of a body.]
A color image of the corner of a gallery space. Two pillars run down the side of the space, inbetween them is a black leather couch with a soft sculpture of a figure laying down, wearing a durag, with a red PlayStation controller. In front of the couch is a table, comprised of a glass panel and a sculpture of a figure laying down with their backside raised. On the left wall is an arrangement of framed drawings. On the right wall is a large red painting, alongside more framed drawings.
Jonathan Lyndon Chase: his beard is soft, my hands are empty. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color image of the corner of a gallery space. Two pillars run down the side of the space, inbetween them is a black leather couch with a soft sculpture of a figure laying down, wearing a durag, with a red PlayStation controller. In front of the couch is a table, comprised of a glass panel and a sculpture of a figure laying down with their backside raised. On the left wall is an arrangement of framed drawings. On the right wall is a large red painting, alongside more framed drawings.]
A color image of one wall of a gallery space, shot head-on. The wall is painted black, and six colorful, and intimate paintings of Black Queer figures are arranged across it. White and yellow drawings are pained onto the wall, complementing and placed around the artworks.
Jonathan Lyndon Chase: his beard is soft, my hands are empty. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color image of one wall of a gallery space, shot head-on. The wall is painted black, and six colorful, and intimate paintings of Black Queer figures are arranged across it. White and yellow drawings are pained onto the wall, complementing and placed around the artworks.]
A color image of the corner of a gallery space. The two walls have been painted black, and various paintings depicting Black Queer figures are depicted. White and yellow drawings are painted onto the wall itself, moving through and around the artworks.
Jonathan Lyndon Chase: his beard is soft, my hands are empty. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color image of the corner of a gallery space. The two walls have been painted black, and various paintings depicting Black Queer figures are depicted. White and yellow drawings are painted onto the wall itself, moving through and around the artworks.]
A color image of a gallery space, with large paintings of Black Queer figures placed on white walls. Drawings in black accent the walls and complement the paintings. Past the left wall is a corridor leading into the next room. In the distance is a white sign on the floor, reading "BARBER SHOP."
Jonathan Lyndon Chase: his beard is soft, my hands are empty. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color image of a gallery space, with large paintings of Black Queer figures placed on white walls. Drawings in black accent the walls and complement the paintings. Past the left wall is a corridor leading into the next room. In the distance is a white sign on the floor, reading "BARBER SHOP."]
A color image of a large gallery room with columns running along the left side of the room. In the center is a checkerboard floor, with three large sculptures of two figures, a hairbrush, and a bottle of hair gel placed on it. The left wall is painted red, and large paintings and durags are hung across it.
Jonathan Lyndon Chase: his beard is soft, my hands are empty. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color image of a large gallery room with columns running along the left side of the room. In the center is a checkerboard floor, with three large sculptures of two figures, a hairbrush, and a bottle of hair gel placed on it. The left wall is painted red, and large paintings and durags are hung across it.]
A color image of the corner of a gallery space. The walls are painted with blue accents, and there is a checkerboard floor. Large, vibrant paintings of Black Queer figures hang on the walls. Blue neon lights run along the frame of the window in the corner.
Jonathan Lyndon Chase: his beard is soft, my hands are empty. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color image of the corner of a gallery space. The walls are painted with blue accents, and there is a checkerboard floor. Large, vibrant paintings of Black Queer figures hang on the walls. Blue neon lights run along the frame of the window in the corner.]
A color image of the corner of a gallery space. Half of the right wall has been painted blue, and a yellow painting of Black Queer figures in a barbershop is hung on the wall. Three soft sculptures are placed, evenly spaced apart along the floor, all depicting different figures.
Jonathan Lyndon Chase: his beard is soft, my hands are empty. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color image of the corner of a gallery space. Half of the right wall has been painted blue, and a yellow painting of Black Queer figures in a barbershop is hung on the wall. Three soft sculptures are placed, evenly spaced apart along the floor, all depicting different figures.]
A color image of a soft sculpture, placed on the floor and leanning against a blue and white wall. The sculpture depicts a Black Queer figure dressed in black, with accents of white, blue and yellow. On top of their head is a wooden brush.
Jonathan Lyndon Chase: his beard is soft, my hands are empty. Installation view (what he thinks about when he sees him, 2023), Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color image of a soft sculpture, placed on the floor and leanning against a blue and white wall. The sculpture depicts a Black Queer figure dressed in black, with accents of white, blue and yellow. On top of their head is a wooden brush.]
A color image of a gallery space, taken from a wide angle. There is a checkerboard floor, with three large sculptures placed down the center. A large red painting is hung on the left wall. On the right wall are a series of paintings and durags.
Jonathan Lyndon Chase: his beard is soft, my hands are empty. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color image of a gallery space, taken from a wide angle. There is a checkerboard floor, with three large sculptures placed down the center. A large red painting is hung on the left wall. On the right wall are a series of paintings and durags.]
A color image of a close-up of a floating vitrine on a red wall, with four small paintings hung in a series above the vitrine. Inside the vitrine are six pages, with poems written on them and drawings of flowers decorating the pages. Thefour paintings above the poems depict Black Queer figures in darkened environments with gold, and colorful accents.
Jonathan Lyndon Chase: his beard is soft, my hands are empty. Installation view (memory of barbers touch, 2022; Poems 1 -6, 2023), Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color image of a close-up of a floating vitrine on a red wall, with four small paintings hung in a series above the vitrine. Inside the vitrine are six pages, with poems written on them and drawings of flowers decorating the pages. Thefour paintings above the poems depict Black Queer figures in darkened environments with gold, and colorful accents.]
A color image of the outside of a brick building. Three large windows running along the wall are each illuminated with neon lights. On the left side is a door to a gallery space, through which can be seen some large, colorful paintings hanging inside.
Jonathan Lyndon Chase: his beard is soft, my hands are empty. Installation view, Artists Space, 2023. Photo: Filip Wolak. [A color image of the outside of a brick building. Three large windows running along the wall are each illuminated with neon lights. On the left side is a door to a gallery space, through which can be seen some large, colorful paintings hanging inside.]

Jonathan Lyndon Chase works in painting, video, sound, and sculpture to depict queer Black love and community in layers of bright, visceral paint, make-up and glitter. Chase’s variously articulated figures appear suspended in both urban and domestic spaces, with the artist’s dynamic compositions blending emotional and physical, internal, and external states to subvert canonical representations and exclusions of the Black body. Chase has been the subject of recent solo and two-person institutional exhibitions at the Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia (2020–21); Pond Society, Shanghai (2019); and the LSU Museum of Art, New Orleans (2019). Their work has recently been included in group exhibitions at the Baltimore Museum of Art; Rudolph Tegner Museum, Dronningmølle, Denmark; Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio; RISD Museum of Art, Providence; Brooklyn Museum; Philadelphia Museum of Art; Rubell Museum, Miami and Washington, DC; and California African American Museum, Los Angeles. Private and public collections featuring Chase’s work include the Brooklyn Museum, ICA Miami, LACMA, and the Rubell Museum as well as the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; High Art Museum, Atlanta; Bronx Museum; Buxton Contemporary Art Museum, Melbourne, Australia; Wedge Collection, Toronto; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia; Leslie Lohman Museum, New York; and Woodmere Museum of Art, Philadelphia. In 2020, the Capricious Foundation published Chase’s "wild wild Wild West & Haunting of the Seahorse", an experimental narrative blending horror and science fiction. Chase was born in Philadelphia, where they currently live and work.

Jonathan Lyndon Chase Exhibition Brochure

Leland, Erin. “Jonathan Lyndon Chase, ‘his beard is soft, my hands are empty’, Artists Space, 8 Sep - 2 Dec 2023.” Spike Art Magazine. August 2023. Print.

Smith, Roberta. “Shows That Give Off Pleasure, and a Bit of Body Heat.” The New York Times. September 2, 2023. Online.

Solomon, Tessa. “The Can’t-Miss Gallery Shows Opening in Tribeca This Week.” ARTNews. September 8, 2023. Online.

Schwendener, Martha. "For Jonathan Lyndon Chase, Hair is Rooted in Pride." The New York Times. November 16, 2023. Online.

Boyle, Meka. “What to See in NYC: September Gallery Guide.” Elephant Magazine. September 15, 2023. Online.

Major support for Jonathan Lyndon Chase: his beard is soft, my hands are empty is provided by Beth Rudin DeWoody, Noel E. D. Kirnon, Tony Salame—Aïshti Foundation, and George Wells. Exhibition support is provided by Bernard I. Lumpkin and Carmine D. Boccuzzi. In-kind support is provided by Company Gallery.

Support for Artists Space’s exhibitions and programs is provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Lambent Foundation Fund of Tides Foundation, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The Cowles Charitable Trust, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, The Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, and Herman Goldman Foundation.

Zack Ingram
Maleke Glee
Mary Chase & William chase
Diedrick Brackens
Company Gallery
Artists Space
my ancestors

    A painting in color of two Black Queer people in a red interior setting. One of them, wearing gray underpants, gazes out of the picture plane, while another profile of their head turned to the right is superimposed. The barber on their right is shaping the seated person’s hair with clippers. The rounded edge of a tabletop with a mirror, comb, and shears atop of it is pictured to the left of the image. A single window depicting snowfall at night can be seen behind the two Black Queer figures.
    Jonathan Lyndon Chase, The Shape Up, 2023. Courtesy of the artist and Company Gallery, New York. [A painting in color of two Black Queer people in a red interior setting. One of them, wearing gray underpants, gazes out of the picture plane, while another profile of their head turned to the right is superimposed. The barber on their right is shaping the seated person’s hair with clippers. The rounded edge of a tabletop with a mirror, comb, and shears atop of it is pictured to the left of the image. A single window depicting snowfall at night can be seen behind the two Black Queer figures.]