J. Carino

Everything Is Golden

Jackson's Art Prize 2026
Acrylic, Oil
Linen
76.2 x 60.9 cm

“My work explores the interactions of queer people and nature. Queer people are often not afforded the luxury of “permanence” in society, and are viewed as “unnatural”. In my work, the figures become a part of the landscapes on different scales of time: the fleeting lives of wildflowers, the multi-decade life of trees, and the eternity of the mountains. This work depicts a couple within the protective and voyeuristic gaze of a forest of aspen trees. I grew up in Colorado, in the United States, and aspen forests have always reminded me of my home. Now, as we are preparing to move to the UK, their golden leaves and watchful eyes feel even more poignant. They are believed to have special powers of protection, even shielding travelers on journeys to the underworld. Their interconnected root systems also make them a symbol of community and connectedness.”