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