In 'An American Fiction,' Ronald Jackson's vibrant portraiture serves as a casting call for an imagined screenplay. His exhibition, opening this week at Galerie Myrtis, explores the absurdities of identity and performance through a series of oil paintings. Each piece is named after a character, their name, and their role, creating a narrative that blurs the lines between reality and fiction. Jackson's approach mirrors the satirical quest of Monk Ellison from the Oscar-winning film 'American Fiction,' where the protagonist writes a 'Black' book under a pen name, leading to surreal encounters with racial stereotypes.

The artist's use of masks, a recurring motif in his work, invites viewers to question the surface-level roles we perform. In Jackson's universe, the mask signifies a deeper narrative, prompting the viewer to consider the reality beneath the mask. This playful yet profound exploration of identity and performance challenges us to reflect on whether we admire the superficial or seek the truths hidden within.

Running from September 5 to October 3 in Baltimore, 'An American Fiction' invites us to engage with the complex and often absurd world of contemporary identity politics. Through Jackson's innovative approach, the exhibition offers a mirror to our own societal narratives, encouraging us to look beyond the surface and explore the unexcavated layers of our identities.

For Jackson, the mask is not a tool for concealment but a reminder of the rich narratives that lie beneath. By using the mask, he invites the viewer to consider the depth of the human experience, questioning whether we are simply admiring the superficial or delving into the profound truths that underpin our performances.

Find more from Jackson on Instagram, where his playful and innovative approach to some of the most pressing questions in contemporary culture continue to provoke thought and conversation.