The Map Home is a collection of paintings by American artist Kim DeJesus, continuing her exploration of memory and the aspects of life that can be controlled and what cannot. Using additive and subtractive gestures to visualize this tension, DeJesus’s process allows for accidents, discoveries, and an ongoing conversation between the artist, the material, and what appears on the canvas. The spontaneity of the colorful washes stands in contrast to the intentionality of overlaid marks and added materials. Fields of color are manipulated to move, but complete control is not always an option.
For DeJesus, the concept of home is not about a fixed or real place but a map of memories, emotions, and connections to self, family, and nature. The last few years have marked a pivotal stage for the artist, emphasizing the transformative process of losing oneself or a loved one, and discovering that the journey home can also be a process of finding oneself. In this context, The Map Home refers to DeJesus’s experience with painting and her artistic practice as a form of wayfinding. These paintings serve as a memory journey—a map of remembrance and rediscovery.
