Meet Jon Riley | Artist. Architect

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jon Riley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jon, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
Learning the hard way.

I was awarded a grant a few years ago to design/build a rammed earth dwelling on my property near the Great Sand Dunes. The San Luis Valley is gorgeous. If you don’t get blown away from the wind you can watch the sky all day and night. The project was on 35 acres, wide open to the surrounding farms/desert. The work I was doing on the property began getting vandalized as I couldn’t be on the property full time. I was also having trouble obtaining the rest of the financing needed for the project and I realized securing the property was impossible. I wanted to build something special, but I out designed my budget, and the Wild West was living up to its namesake . I was unable to build that project.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The western landscape inspired me from my first trip out west in the early 80’s. I didn’t want to go back to North Texas. The sky, rugged mountains/desert terrain, seasons, I was on an adventure in Colorado. I was painting landscapes when I moved here 25 years ago. I started working as a carpenter to support myself. Construction and art led me to architecture. My architecture work challenges the way I paint and create and vice versa. Being able to have an idea in your head and transform it into a 3-dimensional place, object or thing is the most fascinating part of being a maker. Art, architecture and building inform my explorations in making. Architecture is rigid and disciplined, I enjoy creating abstract objects and performing brainless activities to counter act the “real” world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, I usually like to escape the city. I would take them on a southwestern road trip. We would hit up as many hot-springs and ghost towns along the way. We would head south down HWY 285 to Buena Vista and Salida. Stop at Cottonwood hot springs for a soak, eat some Mexican food on the Arkansas River, then drive down to the Sand Dunes in the San Luis Valley and soak in the geo-thermal pools in Hooper, Co. Trek back roads on the Rio Grande into Taos NM and Ojo Caliente. Cross back over to La Veta, Co and explore some old mining towns.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents supported my endeavors early on in life. My grand Pa taught me how to problem solve in unique ways as a kid. He taught me to be patient and look at things from different perspectives. All the people and experiences I have had here in Colorado have directed my path towards art, architecture, building.

Instagram: instagram.com/rancho_mythos instagram.com/animas_architecture instagram.com/jonny_dewey_gallery

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@JonnyDewey

Image Credits
Cover photo_Julie Luehrs Photo Element Studio

Image01_ Phil Castagneri