Introduction to Jon Ching
Jon Ching (b. 1985) was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is currently based in Los Angeles, where he lives and works. Renowned for his exquisitely detailed realism and vivid imagination, his artistic practice is deeply rooted in the natural environment and cultural spirit of Hawaii. He majored in mechanical engineering with a minor in art during college—an interdisciplinary background that informs both the intricate detail and conceptual structure of his work.
Jon is best known for his oil paintings that depict lifeforms blending characteristics of both flora and fauna, symbolizing nature’s boundless creativity and its fragile balance. His work not only raises awareness about endangered species and habitat loss, but also conveys a message of symbiosis and reverence between humanity and the natural world. In this exhibition, Jon presents a new body of work that continues to explore the mysterious order of nature and the richness of biodiversity, inviting viewers to reflect on our emotional connection with the environment.
His artwork has been exhibited in the United States, Australia, Japan, and beyond, including at leading contemporary galleries such as Corey Helford Gallery (Los Angeles), Haven Gallery (New York), and Beinart Gallery (Melbourne). He has been featured in several invitational shows by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, and serves as an artist-in-residence with the international conservation organization American Bird Conservancy. His work has also been recognized with multiple awards and grants related to art and ecology, and has been featured in international media such as Colossal, My Modern Met, and American Art Collector.
1985 Born in Honolulu, Hawai’i. Lives and works in Los Angeles, California
Education
2008 BS Mechanical Engineering | Minor Studio Art, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
Solo Exhibitions
2025 Entropic Entrapment, Beinart Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2023 A Thousand Invisible Cords, KP Projects, Los Angeles, CA
2023 Terra Brio, Haven Gallery West, Northport, NY
2022 Habitat, Beinart Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2021 Realm, Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2021 Sacrosanct, Haven Gallery West, Northport, NY
2020 Phase, Beinart Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2020 Succession, Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2018 DUAL, Antler Gallery, Portland, OR
2018 Ho’olaule’a, Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2018 Megangerie, Makers Studio and Gallery, Rochester, NY (3-person exhibition)
2017 Reflections, Doc’s Lab, San Francisco, CA
2016 Anywhere Else, Doc’s Lab, San Francisco, CA
2013 Put a Bird On It, Darwin Cafe, San Francisco, CA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025 Dreamland Awaits, Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2025 SKATE, 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2025 Giant Robot 30 Years, Mograrg Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2024 Paracosmic Dreams, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Invitational, San Francisco, CA
2024 Tides of Change, YOD Tokyo Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2024 Fables and Folklore, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Invitational, Los Angeles, CA
2024 Blab Show, Copro Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2023 Hidden Secrets, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Invitational, Los Angeles, CA
2022 Context Miami, Corey Helford Gallery
2022 25th Anniversary, KP Projects, Los Angeles, CA
2021 Animalia, Haven Gallery, Northport, NY
2021 Lucid, Beinart Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2020 New Growth, Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2020 Fantastical Beasts, Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2020 Miniature Art, Binary Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2019 Ritual (Curated by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine), Haven Gallery, Northport, NY
2019 Animalia, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2019 Hello Kitty 45 Year Anniversary, Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2019 Small Works, Beinart Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2019 Elements, Haven Gallery, Northport, NY
2019 AEA 7 Year Anniversary, Arch Enemy Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Psychedelia, Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2018 Art Collectors Start Kit V, Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2018 The Blab! Show 13, Copro Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2018 Vanitas, Haven Gallery, Northport, NY
2018 The 2018 Arch Enemy Arts Open Call, Philadelphia, PA
2017 Music Box III, Haven Gallery, Northport, NY
2017 Familiar, Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2017 Crazy4Cult 11, Gallery 1988, Los Angeles, CA
2017 Urban Jungle, Wonderland SF, San Francisco, CA
2016 Nuestros Muertos, Wonderland SF, San Francisco, CA
Awards & Grants
2024 Hawaii Conservation and Game Bird Stamp Contest Winner
2021 Trekell Pro Team Recipient, Los Angeles, CA
2021 Midcity Art Contest Winner, Los Angeles, CA
2021 Vibrant City Art Grant, Los Angeles, CA
2018 Arch Enemy Arts Showcase, Philadelphia, PA
Fellowships
2024–2025 American Bird Conservancy Conservation and Justice Fellow
Bibliography & Publications
2024 Cover image of AAPI Heritage Month Cultural Guide, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
2023 Tidwell, Alyssa M., “Everything From the Earth,” American Art Collector, May, Issue 211
2022 Yann Martel, Life of Pi, Suntup Editions, illustrations for book and dust cover
2022 Pangeaseed Foundation, Sea Change: A Decade of ARTivism for Oceans
2022 Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, September, Issue 37
2022 Ebert, Grace, “The Aquatic and Terrestrial Life of Southern California Merges into Hybrid Creatures in Jon Ching’s Paintings,” Colossal, August 22
2021 Ching, Jon, “Biophilia,” International Artist, September, Issue 140
2021 Drppelmann, Veronica, “Jon Ching: retratando la interconexión en la naturaleza a través de la creatividad,” Ladera Sur, August 2
2021 Mok, Kimberly, “Artist’s Hybrid Flora and Fauna Paintings Evoke ‘Unseen Magic’ of Nature,” Treehugger, June 28
2021 Cole, Margherita, “Surreal Oil Paintings Reimagines Animals Merged With Plant Life,” My Modern Met, June 21
2021 Ebert, Grace, “Flora and Fauna Converge as Fantastic Hybrid Creatures in Jon Ching’s Oil Paintings,” Colossal, June 7
2021 Funderburk, Amy, “Artivism: Making a Difference Through Art,” Art & Object, May 17
2021 Harris, Bella, “Brian Mashburn, Jason Mowry, Jon Ching & Craww @ Haven Gallery,” Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, January 16
2020 Barnes, Sara, “Surreal Animal Painting Reimagine Wildlife and Their Connection to Nature,” My Modern Met, January 1
2019 Purssey, Danijela Krha, “Snap Shot,” Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, March, Issue 24
2018 O’Hern, John, “Habitats of the World,” American Art Collector, May, Issue 151
Fun Facts
I spent a month shepherding 100 sheep and 30 goats in Montepulciano, Italy.
I helped Hawai’i state officially declare August 8th Hawaiian Honeycreeper Day.
My spirit animal is a bowerbird because they are meticulous and use their art to attract a mate.
