Currently on display at cbc in Spartanburg sc
Johni Bleu
Johni Bleu Channels the Masters in Daring Rubens Reproduction for Spartanburg Art Museum's “Counterfeit” Auction
Spartanburg, SC – At first glance, it’s hard to believe the 8-by-4-foot oil painting that now hangs in the Spartanburg Art Museum isn’t a centuries-old original. With its dramatic lighting, muscular figures, and reverent detail, the piece echoes the grandeur of Peter Paul Rubens’ 1616 masterpiece Descent from the Cross, which resides in Belgium’s Cathedral of Our Lady. But this isn’t Antwerp—it’s South Carolina. And the artist isn’t a Flemish Baroque master. He’s Johni Bleu.
The striking work is part of the museum’s playful-yet-purposeful exhibition and auction, Counterfeit: Forgeries for a Cause, where contemporary artists were invited to recreate iconic works of art. All proceeds benefit regional artists and the Spartanburg Art Museum itself. But Bleu’s contribution rises above parody—it’s a testament to grit, reverence, and self-driven artistry.
“He saw the opportunity to make a huge work of art to hang in this museum and he just took on this ambitious project,” said Elizabeth Refshauge, executive director of the Spartanburg Art Museum. “And what he delivered is something truly profound.”
Bleu not only recreated Rubens’ monumental painting with astounding skill, he also constructed a custom ornate frame to house it—adding his own craftsmanship from wood to canvas. It’s a piece that commands attention, not simply because of its scale, but because of the story behind it.
Born and raised in the South, Johni Bleu is no stranger to the spotlight. Before immersing himself in visual art, he enjoyed a successful career as a professional athlete. But when those days passed, Bleu turned to the canvas with the same passion and discipline he once brought to the field.
“My father, who passed when I was 26, was the only family I ever really knew,” Bleu shared in an interview. “He always told me, ‘Don’t do anything unless you’re going to go all out.’ That stuck with me. I’ve carried that mindset into everything I do—even this.”
His decision to take on Rubens was born not of ego, but of desire to grow. “I just wanted to challenge myself with the Masters,” Bleu said. “There’s so much room for growth in what I do, but I’m really proud of the outcome of this piece—and that’s rare as an artist. That feeling of being internally proud… that’s something we all chase.”
For Bleu, this painting is just the beginning. He’s currently drafting a proposal for a solo show at the Spartanburg Art Museum—an event that would mark a major cultural moment for both the artist and the city.
“This piece is just a small taste of what’s to come,” he said, hinting that more ambitious, emotionally charged work is on the horizon. “Spartanburg has heart, and I want to be part of building something big here.”
As the museum prepares for the Counterfeit auction and the buzz around Bleu’s Rubens-inspired work continues to build, one thing is clear: Johni Bleu is a force, not just in the South, but in the larger conversation of contemporary American art —it’s an exciting glimpse of what happens when raw talent meets relentless drive.