Jr Mitchell

JR Mitchell (Raymond Mitchell Perusina Jr.) is a contemporary abstract painter based in Palm Springs, California, known for his quirky, narrative-driven artworks that blend humor, theater, and modern abstraction. Born in Northern California, he lived in San Francisco and Los Angeles before settling in Palm Springs, drawing inspiration from the cultural energy of each city. His background includes studies in business administration at City College of San Francisco and acting at Studio A.C.T. (American Conservatory Theater) in San Francisco, as well as the Loft Studio and Sherwood Oaks Film School in Los Angeles. After stepping away from Hollywood, Mitchell turned to painting, encouraged by an artist friend who offered him studio space—marking the beginning of his career in contemporary art.

Mitchell’s work is best described as abstract yet playful, often incorporating theatrical elements and storytelling. His first major work, Full House (2014), presents a stage scene with an aspiring actor (perhaps himself) waiting in the wings. Another early piece, Bibi’s Wedding (2015), narrates a love story through a surreal cast of characters surrounding a blue truck, with symbolic details like a stage curtain and a knife blurring the line bet...