Good Boy


Good Boy is a photo-based project by Chicago-based contemporary photographer Jon McJunkin (b. 1993). In Good Boy, McJunkin employs a variety of photographic techniques to delve into his own identity, utilizing art as a vehicle for exploration and understanding. His ongoing diaristic research project spans over ten years and encompasses medium format, large format, and digital photography, along with digital scans, text, video, and audio. 

For Jon McJunkin, Good Boy serves as a powerful tool for healing and catharsis, as the project is rooted in his personal narrative shaped by his upbringing in the American South, family upheaval, and their connections to the FBI. The work aims to evoke empathy for his struggles while encouraging audiences to critically engage with the systems that shape their lives, inviting reflection on the myriad of influences that mold identity and personal history.

The title Good Boy is rich with meaning, balancing notions of innocence and subversion while confronting societal expectations of ‘goodness’ and revealing complex, often scandalous connotations. This tension reflects McJunkin's exploration of queer identity, desire, and morality, challenging conventional understandings of proper behavior. 

By prompting contemplation on themes of sexuality, vulnerability, and the search for acceptance, his work invites audiences to reevaluate their own beliefs and values.In this way, Good Boy not only encapsulates McJunkin’s personal experience but also resonates broadly with anyone navigating the complexities of identity and societal expectations by inviting them on the journey to be a "Good Boy". 

Early Family Portrait, San Antonio, TX, 1996





Park Ridge, IL, 2014


Park Ridge, IL, 2014


Detail Shot: Transcription from the final recorded conversation with Grandpa Daugherty 



“There, you are”, Park Ridge, IL, 2015




Self Portrait (with you), Chicago, IL, 2014





Untitled (1124), Park Ridge, IL, 2015








Heidi and Rachel’s Art School Homework, Park Ridge, IL, 2014






My First Photograph, Ringgold, GA, 1997







Yard Robin, Park Ridge, IL, 2015





Portrait of my Father and Me, Chicago, IL, 2014












The American Banana Hammock, Chicago, IL, 2014














Dad’s Gift for Mom (30th Anniversary Flowers), Chicago, IL, 2015





Mom and Dad, San Antonio, TX, 1992










Thomas “Stonewall” Stonewall / The Last Meeting, Park Ridge, IL, 2015









Untitled Installation, Chicago, IL, 2014
Early Family Portrait, San Antonio, TX, 1995












The Guardian, Park Ridge, IL, 2015






Dad’s PSP Portrait









A Family’s Foundation (Security Blanket), Park Ridge, IL, 2013







Dad’s Childhood Bedroom, Fredonia, PA, 2015








Portrait of Dad at the Christmas Tree Farm, Niles, IL, 2013








Home Flag, Park Ridge, IL, 2013




Early Family Portrait, Ringgold, GA, 1997






Moving In (Reflections), Park Ridge, IL, 2013










Mom’s Christmas Window Wreath, Park Ridge, IL, 2013








Home Flag from Guest Bedroom, Park Ridge, IL, 2013







Self Portrait in Guest Room 2, Park Ridge, IL, 2013








The Tennis Ball Parking Stop, Park Ridge, IL, 2014
 







Heidi’s Perch, Park Ridge, IL, 2015




Gram‘s Oxygen, Fredonia, PA, 2015






Vent Filfth in Gram’s Bedroom, Fredonia, PA, 2015








Stain in Gram’s Bedroom, Fredonia, PA, 2015








“I see you there”, Fredonia, PA, 2015











The Last Photograph of Pap (Wally), Fredonia, PA, 2007




Early Portrait of My Father and Me, Ringgold, GA, 1998





Grandpa’s Dead Garage, Fredonia, PA, 2015


Dad’s Childhood Home, Fredonia, PA, 2015






Wally’s Leftover Bed Sheets, Fredonia, PA, 2015


(Radio Silence), Fredonia, PA, 2015







Remants of the Farm, Fredonia, PA, 2015





Grandpa Sherm’s Final Resting Spot, West Leechburg, PA, 2014







A Thank You Gift from the FBI Director (1 of 2), Park Ridge, IL, 2015

A Thank You Gift from the FBI Director (2 of 2), Park Ridge, IL, 2015






Trophy Husband (FBI Retirement Gift), Park Ridge, IL, 2015








Gram’s Handicap Pass, Fredonia, PA, 2015















Moving Out (Empty Living Room), Park Ridge, IL, 2024

Moving Out (Empty Dining Room), Park Ridge, IL, 2024







Home’s Final Face, Park Ridge, IL, 2024







Park Ridge, IL, 2024





Re-planted Funeral Hydrengas, Park Ridge, IL, 2024




Childhood Souveniers, Chicago, IL, 2024



Moving Out (Packed Garage), Park Ridge, IL, 2024