Saint Jo, Scribe of Our Souls

2023-2024
Oil and brass leaf on wood panel

Portrait of playwright and performer Jo Clifford

Audio Description

Audio description by Ed Griffiths

Artist Statement

Reading of artist statement by Chris Ferric

This painting is for Jo, my friends, my communities.
Jo is disabled, sexy, trans, old, and worthy of the care and attention required to paint an oil portrait made-up of many caresses of her face and body.

Jo was ordained by The Order of Perpetual Indulgence. She is surrounded by a halo of golden nibs gifted by Brother Bimbo.

This portrait bears scars from mishandling by a major state gallery. They aren’t hidden, they are part of her story, in gold.

Jo is manifest fully: father and grandmother; Elder; playwright; performer; Queen Jesus; St Jo, Scribe of Our Souls.

Jo’s Poem

Jo wrote a poem in response to their portrait. This is a recording of Jo reading. The text is immediately below.

This is my face
An old face
In a world that fears death
& tries to ignore it
& so fears old age
& tries to ignore it too
But it won’t go away
Just as I won’t go away

This is my face
A trans face
In a world that wants men to be men
& women to be women
& tries to suppress
Those of us who cross the line
Those of us who defy the frontiers
& wants us to disappear
But I won’t disappear

I love my femaleness
& I love my maleness too
Because I am old enough
To have known much hatred
& old enough to have overcome it.

So I love my aging
& death is my sister
& life my lover & friend

Jo Clifford 13th April 2024

Detail

“I love the picture.

Seeing it in the gallery recently was the first time I had actually seen it as a real artwork. It sent shivers up and down my spine. There is something utterly miraculous in the energy of this picture and the life that shines out of it.

Chris has taken the most traditional art form imaginable and, with astonishing skill, subverted it on so many levels.

The portrait has just won a major art award. And I’m happy to see that Chris’s wonderful artistry is beginning to get the respect and appreciation it so deserves.

And as for the painting itself: It is so queer and so glorious it takes my breath away.”

~ Jo Clifford about their portrait