In Tribute to Artist, Johnice Ingram Parker

Disclaimer: The paintings depicted in this tribute are not available for purchase

When Johnice returned to Memphis, she eagerly collaborated with other artists at the Memphis Academy and completed her degree. She spread her new wings to explore various media, styles, and content. She started working with clay, glass, leather, stone, experiments that continued throughout her career. Unconventional works by Johnice -- inspired by the influence of her European experiences and her exploration at the Memphis Academy -- have included challises for religious sacraments, hand-thrown pottery bowls, designing and making leather boots, and paintings on leather and denim. Painting became her lasting love. Painting in pencil, chalk pastel, oil, and acrylic, she produced her most significant body of art.

Johnice's Style

People are always interested in knowing about the artist’s style and motivation. Where did the interest in art start? Who influenced you? First, Johnice’s work is not limited to any one subject or type, or medium. She would say, “I can provide art for your entire house, and you would not know it was just one artist’s work. My style is not limited to one genre or one medium.” When people would attend gallery showings, they often thought they were looking at a multi-artist exhibition. “Who is this artist?” Moving to another painting, the same question, “Who is this artist?” Discovering both were “Johnice Parker,” patrons often were amazed at the variety of stylings and content by one artist, including landscapes, figurative, abstracts, seascapes, and collages.

But, of all Johnice’s influences, she loved Impressionism. Many of her most loved paintings demonstrate the effects of the original Impressionists.

She also adapted later experiments by other modernists who extended “modernism” by using tools beyond the paintbrush to amplify and diversify painting. For example, Johnice loved using her fingers and fingernails to apply her paints and create strokes to capture the natural light that made very unusual images in her paintings. “I paint with my fingers! You can see the skin on the fingertips is nearly worn away!” was one of her favorite self-descriptions. She also used the palette knife and stir sticks to apply paint accents right out of the tube, thick and textured. She indeed made the meaning of Impressionism her own, whether painting family scenes, dancers or sports figures.

Music, especially jazz, blues, and gospel, influenced her greatly. She was an artist who listened to music as she painted. From listening, Johnice honored those sounds that resonated in her spirit in her art. Identifying soul-to-soul, she often described herself, “I am an artist who is a musician.”

Beloved Teacher and Mentor

After a stint as a medical illustrator and a graphic artist, Johnice found that she enjoyed teaching art at a historically Black college, LeMoyne-Owen, in Memphis. Her students loved her as their teacher, as they expressed via social media, “She was my art teacher!” Seemingly the opposite of Johnice’s fun-loving nature, her teaching preparation was impeccable, as revealed in some of the lesson plans found in her files. She was committed to having her students understand the lessons and apply them in their creations.

After six years, Johnice decided to resign from formal teaching to become, as she said, “a real artist” by striking out and selling her artwork through freelance. Remarkably, she made her living as a freelance artist for almost 40 years. Most artists continue with some other means of making a living, but Johnice was very successful on her own.

Even with the demands of her success, Johnice never gave up her love of teaching and helping other artists. She continued mentoring artists and those who sought her advice and encouragement for the rest of her life. Assisting other artists was the gift she gave freely.

So, this is Johnice Ingram Parker: A celebrated artist, recognized over many years for her career, for her artwork, and her humanitarian impact. She received many awards and commendations for her artistic gift and the gifts she, in turn, contributed to cities and communities.

Johnice Ingram Parker
Exhibitions, Television Programs, Awards and Commendations

A partial list of exhibitions, television programs displaying her artwork, and awards:

Exhibitions:

• Father’s Day Art Sale with Judy and Frank Frazier, Dallas, TX

• Juneteenth Celebration with the Douglas Vision Non-profit, Plano, TX

• Dallas Area Rapid Transit System Permanent Station Public Art:

  • Corinth and Eight Street Station: Depicting the Historical 10th Street Neighborhood

  • Ledbetter Station: From the Earth Comes the Song

• National Black Fine Art Show, New York, NY

• “Visual Expression through Artists’ Expressions,” Miles/Parker Studio Gallery, Dallas, TX

• “Energy of Emotions,” South Side at Lamar Gallery, Dallas, TX

• “Opening Show,” Universal Gallery, Memphis, TN

• “Johnice I. Parker: Visual Expression,” Jubilee Gallery, Memphis, TN

• Commissioned Cowboy Paintings for Southwestern Bell Center’s Permanent Collection, San Antonio, TX

• “Soul of the Seasons: Johnice I. Parker,” Miles/Parker Studio Gallery, Dallas, TX

• “Art of the Spirit: Religious Symbols and Spiritual Dimension,” Smithsonian Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture, Washington, D.C.

• “New Works on Paper,” Miles/Parker Studio Gallery, Dallas, TX

• Mosadies Collection Art Gallery, Denver, CO

• Artistic Apparel, Cincinnati, OH

• “Contemporary Impressionists, “Ann Hughes Gallery, Dallas, TX

Television Programs:

• Family Matters

• The Cosby Show

• Behind the Scenes of the Oprah Winfrey Show

• Private Practice

• Girlfriends

Awards and Commendations:

• Special Recognition by Dallas Art and Commission

• Special Recognition by the Dallas City Council

• National Pastel Artist Show Finalist, Wichita, KA

• Artfest 500 Inc., “Best in Show – Pastel,” Dallas, TX