Frank Jones

Bio

Frank Jones (1900–1969) created drawings while confined in prison during the last nine years of his life. After a rough childhood in Texas, and accompanying mental illness, he spent most of his adult life in and out of jail, though many of those close to him doubted his guilt. He made his drawings using found paper and blue and red accountants pencils salvaged from the prison's trash cans. The subjects of his work are "haints", or devils, that he had lifelong visions of and enclosed in small houses and rooms in his works, much like his jail cell.

 

Untitled, 1966, colored pencil of paper, 22.5 x 24.5 in


Untitled, colored pencil on paper, 20.5 x 18 in


Untitled, 1964-1969, colored pencil on paper, 20.5 x 18 in


Puerto Rican German, ca 1960, colored pencil on paper, 18.75 x 25 in


Untitled, ca 1964, colored pencil on paper, 21.5 x 23 in


Untitled, ca 1960-1969, colored pencil on paper, 12 x 18 in