JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART: Recently Added Galleries and Collections

Ephemera

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Ephemera is a series of intentionally blurred images of light each captured not to reveal, but to dissolve. This series explores the fleeting nature of perception, where light lingers, where the making of memories mixes with the creation of reality.This series continues my investigation into attention and memory. Here, stimuli (light) is absorbed, by the camera, we are attenuated to it, and it ultimately is transformed into something fragile, elusive, and almost unexplainable. Unlike earlier works that grappled with trauma and intensity, Ephemera turns to the soft, transient moments that pass quietly but leave their mark.Each image becomes a space of suspension, where clarity gives way to atmosphere, and light becomes both presence and absence. The work asks us to consider what it means to perceive without fully grasping, to remember without certainty, and to find meaning in the delicate residue of experience

Linger

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Linger is a series of digitally captured floral images rendered deliberately out of focus. These are not flowers as they are, but as they are remembered, soft, imprecise, and partial. The blur becomes a way of speaking about memory: how it holds on, but never quite intact. These images continue a line of inquiry that threads through much of my work. It pushes to understand how memory forms under pressure, how attention to stimuli sharpens or fades with repeated exposure and time, and how emotional experience inscribes itself into perception. However, where earlier projects have often focused on traumatic memory, such as during my own medical training or the pandemic, Linger attends to something quieter: the soft persistence of positive recollection.Each image offers a trace. A suggestion of shape, color, warmth. The presence of something that once mattered, now held at a distance. The work asks what remains when detail fades. Perhaps what is preserved is what matters most, not in accuracy, but in feeling. In Linger, I’m less interested in precision than in impression. Less in what happened, then in how it felt. Memory here is not a record but a residue. It is tender, partial, and still alive.

Series to Self

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Blumenthal, Series to Self, 2025
Oil paint on wood
12x18

Series to Self presents a sequence of self-portraits, transforming from realistic to increasingly abstract as viewers move through the collection. The project originated as a personal documentation method—Blumenthal would create these portraits after returning home from grueling shifts during his first year of medical residency, using art to process the day's intense clinical experiences.

The paintings exist in stark contrast to the formal, glamorized physician portraits that line the hospital hallways where Blumenthal works. While those traditional paintings present an idealized image of medical professionals, Blumenthal's series deliberately reveals the less polished reality—capturing moments of exhaustion, doubt, and the emotional toll of patient care.
Upon arriving home each night, physically and emotionally drained from hospital work, Blumenthal would immediately turn to his paints. The earliest paintings in the series show clear, recognizable self-portraits with tired eyes and tense expressions. As viewers progress through the collection, the representations become increasingly fragmented and abstract, reflecting the artist's deeper psychological journey and the progressive emotional processing of his daily experiences.

The portraits' green and blue tones deliberately reference the interwar art period (1918-1939), when artists like Otto Dix, George Grosz, and Max Beckmann responded to the unprecedented trauma of World War I by rejecting established artistic conventions. Having witnessed extraordinary human suffering as soldiers or civilians, these artists found traditional representational techniques inadequate to express psychological trauma. Their shift toward expressionism, surrealism, and abstraction stemmed from a profound need to communicate emotional truths that realistic depiction could not convey. Similarly, Blumenthal's progressive abstraction throughout the series reflects how sustained exposure to suffering in medical practice pushes conventional representation to its limits, requiring new visual languages to process profound human experiences.

Medical phrases scratched into the foreheads of each portrait capture Blumenthal's ongoing ruminations as a physician. The gradual abstraction mirrors his journey into his own psyche—each painting peeling back another layer of professional identity to reveal raw emotional states beneath.

Scrubbing Through Covid - A Retrospective Study

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Scrubbing Through Covid - A Retrospective Study is a reflection on the early days of the pandemic. Crafted with toothbrushes rather than a conventional paintbrush, this work is infused with a deliberate choice, one that resonates with Jonah's compulsive cleaning rituals that consumed him during the spring and summer of 2020. Furthermore, the repetitive marks seen in these works are meant to remind the audience of the repetitive nature of life during March-May 2020.

Walls

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Captivated by the intensity and richness of the textured walls of Vidin, Jonah grew to appreciate and question the markings he saw around him. As a result of the fall of the Soviet Union, Vidin was struck by deep economic crisis. At the same time, the intense punishments for graffiti and self expression under Soviet rule were lifted. This allowed many to express themselves, their joys and struggles on the walls of Vidin. Jonah began to see these wall markings as a unique history. Much like cave paintings, these drawings and age spots are able to capture the individual relationships that this space has had with its people and environment.

Quarantine

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Quarantine - serves as a poignant exploration of the intense pent-up energy Jonah felt during the 2020 Covid lockdowns. These works use strong fast paced lines (often a common element in Jonah's work) to capture a palpable sense of frustration, confusion, and anxiety. As a medical student working in the hospital during the peak of the pandemic, Jonah witnessed immense pain, suffering, and loss. These works acted as a cathartic outlet for Jonah's processing of this mass trauma. Through Quarantine, Jonah effectively channels his turbulent emotions stemming from lockdown-related distress, while also encapsulating the horrors and profound grief of the pandemic.

In Memoriam

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>In Memoriam - is built into a 40x60 canvas, with one thousand ribbons inserted through slits in the canvas. Each cut was made using a scalpel. The ribbons are otherwise not attached to the canvas. Jonah engineered a system which generates random movement behind the work. This is meant to surprise the audience and quickly grab their attention. Over time, however, the audience gets attenuated to the sound and it becomes less interesting. This shift in the audience's experience parallels our social response to hearing about and death during the pandemic. The ribbons themselves are meant to fall out of the canvas. Over time the piece itself is meant to decay and die. This is Jonah's memorial to the more than 1.1 million Americans who have died from Covid-19.

Cold Storage

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

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Be Still

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>The onion and potato were both important symbols for Jonah while he lived in Bulgaria. Not only are these two hearty vegetables staples of the local cuisine, but they are also both capable of growing in a variety of conditions. Jonah let these onions and potatoes sit on his kitchen windowsill for months forcing them each to grow outside of their normal environments. This series was taken on an Exacta Vx lia.

Bulgaria

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This series focuses on moving from Winter to Summer in Bulgaria. With this change in weather came change in mood. The photos in this series were taken on both a Smena 1 and an Exacta Vx lia.

Erasure

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Jonah's "Erasure", a collection of large scale charcoal drawings, grapples with what it means to leave a city, by choice as he was or by force, as so many often do. The series was conceptualized and created in the last month of Jonah's time in Vidin. Made with brooms, vacuums and sponges, Jonah confronts both conceptually and literally ideas of cleansing, erasure, and loss of history. The works were inspired by Jonah's upcoming trip to return to the United States consequently leaving Vidin (perhaps forever).

Additionally, the abandoned Vidin Synagogue played a prominent role in the development of the series. As a Jewish man, Jonah found the synagogue both haunting and beautiful. Spending time inside the building, Jonah was pushed to further consider alternative meanings of "erasure".

A Note About Bulgaria

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>A note from Jonah:

It is very important for me that I publicly recognizes how much I truly enjoyed Bulgaria. Bulgaria is an exciting, gorgeous country. Although there were times when living in Vidin was difficult for me, upon reflecting on the overall experience, there were far more positive experiences than negative ones. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to intimately experience Bulgarian food, Bulgarian geography, and the Bulgarian people. Specifically, I adored my time spent with many of my high school students in Vidin. I am forever grateful for the opportunity I had to both teach and learn from them.

My time traveling around Bulgaria was exceptional. I will always have a special place in my heart for some of Bulgaria’s larger cities such as Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, and Veliko Tarnovo, as well as its geographic wonders including The Seven Rila Lakes (pictured below), Belogradchik, and the Black Sea. Bulgaria is a very special place. If the opportunity ever comes, go visit and see for yourself.

- Jonah Blumenthal

Down Low

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Jonah's largest series, this collection centers around the theme of being at ground level. What does it mean to be at one's own "ground level""? What can be seen there?

Up High

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>A collection of landscapes centered around the theme of height. Locations included in the series include: Ireland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Canada.

Charcoal In Space

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>As a Jewish man, the abandoned Vidin synagogue, played an important role in the development of Jonah's large scale charcoal collection. Specifically, Jonah took interest in the the concept of erasure. Jonah crafted his works by using brooms and vacuums to apply and remove charcoal. Jonah chose to photograph these within the abandoned synagogue of Vidin to bring further meaning to the concept of erasure.

Paintings In Space

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>While living in Vidin Bulgaria, Jonah took interest in the various textures and lines he saw on walls around town. Jonah feels that the context in which these paintings were created is essential to understanding them both individually and collectively.

Winter

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>While in Bulgaria Jonah began painting in the Winter. He feels that these paintings represent his experience and struggles through this time period. Of note are the repeated color schemes, and brush strokes. During this time, Jonah heavily experimented with drawing on top of and underneath his paintings with oil pastel and pencil. Included in this series are paintings depicting Jonah's self image, his general state of emotion, and his apartment.

About Jonah Blumenthal

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>As a conceptual contemporary artist and Internal Medicine Resident at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital, Jonah's work reflects the intersection of his lived experiences, his social commentary, and his passion for visual art. Jonah began studying visual art in high school and attended Brown University where he matriculated as a visual arts concentrator. While at Brown Jonah explored many different subjects and ultimately found himself captivated by neuroscience. This fascination led him to pursue a medical degree at Harvard, where his training significantly influenced his artistic focus.

Prior to matriculating at Harvard, Jonah was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to live and work in Vidin Bulgaria.
Vidin is Bulgaria's poorest state. Consequentially, living there had its share of challenges. Jonah chronicled his journey through large scale paintings as well as through both digital and film photography.

Jonah specifically chose to engage with film in order to depict his experience using cameras that had historically been found in Bulgaria. Analog works captured in Bulgaria were taken using cameras manufactured in Dresden (1933), East Berlin (1960's), and Russia (1950s).

Jonah combined these two mediums while photographing his paintings in the spaces around Vidin that inspired them. He believes that through this format, his audience understands his experience more fully.

Jonah’s work is an attempt to bring his rural Bulgarian experience into the lives of his audience. His work centers around ideas of seasonal change, history taking, and the erasure of that history and its people.

Jonah's time in Vidin drastically influenced his approach to art making, and he continues to draw on the lessons learned in Bulgaria.

Throughout his medical education, he has found solace in his art practice, which allows him to process and express the complexities of his experiences in the hospital, clinic, and operating room. Since March of 2020, Jonah's artistic focus has shifted to center more on the expriences in patient care during the Covid-19 pandemic. Jonah's art reflects the emotional and psychological tolls of the pandemic on his own psyche as well as on our society at large. Specifically he focuses on social habituation and the development of social numbness.

Jonah hopes that his art makes you work. he hopes to leave you questioning what you have seen and contemplating its meaning.

Still Life

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Jonah's "Still Life" series is a compilation of various interpretations on a classic still life. Inspired by his often opposing experiences in Vidin, Jonah worked to create a collection which feels both connected and disjointed. In grappling with his own mixed and opposing emotions, he created work that feels both deep and flat simultaneously.

Landscapes

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Painted in the Spring and Summer, Jonah's "Landscapes" depict the beauty of the Bulgarian countryside. Being known for its rose and sunflower fields, Jonah found bright colors, and deep landscapes. Living in Vidin Jonah was far from the rose fields. Being geographically distant, Jonah felt somewhat detached from these fields. As a result, he chose to paint these landscapes in an abstract fashion, imagining what they might look like.

How to Purchase Originals

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>If you would like to purchase a print, simply click on a photograph and navigate to the sales page. If you would like to purchase a large scale, life size print, or an original painting, please feel free to reach out to me to discuss pricing. I can be reached at blumenthaljonah@gmail.com. My phone number is 770-366-1821. I look forward to speaking with you.

Lighght

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>An ode to Aram Saroyan's "Lighght", this album works to focus on some of the underappreciated qualities, elements, and textures of light. This album was captured using an Exacta Vx lia.

Upside

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>From below the surface we all look the same. Captured on an Exacta Vx lia.

Rise and Shine

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Rise - And - Shine

This series was created using an Exacta Vx lia.

Cabbage

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>"зеле" or cabbage is the Bulgarian phrase used to prompt a staged photographic smile..."Say cheese" . This series combines work shot on a Smena 1, and Exacta Vx lia.

Notre Dame Is Dead

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Jonah traveled to Paris four months before the Notre Dame fire. While in Paris, Jonah took great interest in the dichotomy of old and new. To Jonah, Paris became a representation of humanity's often simultaneous nostalgia for the past and excitement for the future. This collection was captured using a Smena 1.

Selfies

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Jonah' Blumenthal's "Selfies" question what it means to take a self portrait. Inundated by photographs of smiling faces on the internet, Jonah feels that these "Selfies" offer a more realistic look at his own self. These photographs were captured on an Exacta Vx lia.

Vidin Synagogue

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This series focuses on capturing some of the rich textures that surrounded Jonah while visiting the abandoned Vidin Synagogue. These photographs were captured on an Exacta Vx lia.

Tinfoil

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Tinfoil is for more than the kitchen, it is for anonymity.

International

(JONAH BLUMENTHAL ART) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This series centers around the theme of international street photography (one of Jonah's favorite activities). Jonah appreciates street photography's ability to capture a unique moment abroad and bring it into the lives of his audience. Locations in the series include: Ireland, Italy, Romania, and Israel.