Counterfeit Auction – Spartanburg Art Museum (2024)

For the Spartanburg Art Museum’s Counterfeit: Forgeries for a Cause exhibition, Johni Bleu created a large-scale reinterpretation of Peter Paul Rubens’ Descent from the Cross. The 8 x 4 foot oil painting explored classical Baroque composition, dramatic lighting, and the technical challenge of recreating a historic masterwork through contemporary practice.

In addition to painting the work, Bleu constructed a custom hand-built frame, emphasizing craftsmanship from canvas to presentation. The project served as both a technical study and a personal challenge, marking a pivotal moment in his ongoing dialogue with historical painting traditions.

Presented as part of the museum’s fundraising auction supporting regional artists, the piece reflected Bleu’s interest in bridging classical influences with modern narrative-driven work, laying groundwork for themes that would continue to develop in later exhibitions.