HOPE – Johnce Lyle Parrish (1946–2025) was an artist whose life and work were defined by curiosity, craftsmanship, and an unwavering commitment to creative expression. Knowing he wanted to be an artist by age three, Parrish held his first one-man exhibition at just eleven years old. As an adult, he became known as a “Jack of All Trades,” excelling in sign painting, remodeling, and large-scale mural work throughout the region.
Parrish’s artistic practice extended beyond functional craftsmanship into the realm of fine art. He earned recognition for his sculptures, pen and ink drawings, watercolor on Yupo, oil paintings, and more. After retiring from carpentry, he dedicated himself fully to his art, teaching classes, serving on arts-related boards, and contributing to cultural organizations including the Arkansas Arts Council, the Elberta Arts Council, the Fine Arts Center of Hot Springs, AmeriCorps VISTA, and the Howard and South Pike County Literacy Council.
His work has been exhibited in galleries, featured in publications such as A Gathering of Artists, and continues to live on in public spaces including the Glenwood Library and the Crater of Diamonds State Park Visitors Center. Since his death in April 2025, Johnce’s work has been featured internationally through Bifarin Galleries. Johnce painted daily after retirement, driven by an internal need to create. Though the loss of his vision eventually prevented him from continuing to paint on canvas, his artistic vision never faded.
As Parrish once said, “Art requires honesty. This makes me a seeker, so my art is about process, not product.” This retrospective honors a life devoted to that philosophy.
April 9 will be open exclusively to SWAAC members. The exhibition opens to the public on April 10 and will remain on view through the month of April during weekday morning hours.
For more information, contact the Southwest Arkansas Arts Council at [email protected] or visit 200 E Division St Hope..
About the Southwest
Arkansas Arts Council
The Southwest Arkansas Arts Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching communities through experience, expression, and education in all the arts.
