Biography/CV
Photo by Leona Strassburg Steiner
Mollie Thonneson earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts at New Jersey City University in 2012. She studied illustration at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena from 1979-1981, but soon realized her heart belonged to painting rather than the world of commercial art. Thonneson's work has been shown nationally and internationally. Her current body of work is a continuing conversation that allows one artwork to inspire the next. She has been following this thread since 2013.
Thonneson is the inventor and owner of TAG the Art Game, an award winning collaborative game where players take turns painting, drawing, and collaging to create an abstract piece of artwork. TAG can be purchased online at www.tagtheartgame.com and in over 50 stores in the USA and abroad.
Thonneson is deeply involved in the community art scene where she serves as a board member for Pro Arts Jersey City.
Thonneson abandoned painting temporarily when she and her late husband, Joseph Franklin, founded Joseph Franklin Interior Accessories in 1990. The duo designed and manufactured high-end lamps, mirrors and accent tables that featured natural patinas on copper and handmade ceramic tiles. Their twelve year artistic collaboration ended after Franklin’s death in 2002.
As a child and an adult, Thonneson has lived all over the globe. She moved from Southern California to the East coast in 2007 where she now lives and works with artist Alan Walker and their daughter Tulsi Franklin. Whether she is painting, sewing, designing a lamp or game, Thonneson has a creative spirit that illuminates her life and her work.
EDUCATION
2012. BFA. New Jersey City University. Jersey City, NJ.
1979-1981. Art Center College of Design. Pasadena, Ca.
EXHIBITIONS
2019
Wander, Art Fair 14c, Hyatt Regency, Jersey City, NJ
Identity, The Gallery Space, Rahway, NJ
Anti-Valentine, Art House Productions, Jersey City, NJ
Affordable Art Show, Art House Productions, Jersey City, NJ
2017
New Jersey and You, Village West Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
Alan Walker and Mollie Thonneson, Rotunda Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
Solstice, Pro Arts Jersey City , NJ
Whatever, The Raven, Jersey City, NJ
She Speaks, Gallery Aferro, Newark, NJ
Do Not Be Afraid, City Hall, Jersey City, NJ
The Raven Turns 3!, The Raven, Jersey City, NJ
2016
Dyad, Mollie Thonneson and Alan Walker, Saint Peter's University, Jersey City, NJ
Wearable Art, The Raven, Jersey City, NJ
Up In Arms! The Raven, Jersey City, NJ
Moment's Notice, Newark Open Doors Group Show, Newark, NJ
What Do You Have To Say?, Pro Arts Members Show, Jersey City, NJ
Power in Fragility, Mack Cali business center, Jersey City, NJ
Untitled Group Show, Barrow Mansion, Jersey City, NJ
2015
Curators Choice, Jersey City Art Museum, Jersey City, NJ
Mostly Drawing, Victory Hall Drawing Rooms, Jersey City, NJ
Solo Show, 85 Market Street, Newark, NJ
A Show of Hands: The Fiber Arts, Spectrum Gallery, Centerbrook, CT
Baker's Dozen, Arts Guild, Rahway, NJ
Kinetic Color, Modern Sage, Jersey City, NJ
The Raven Turns 2!, The Raven, Jersey City, NJ
2014
Big Small Painting Show, Victory Hall Drawing Rooms, Jersey City, NJ
Curator’s Choice 2014, Jersey City Museum, Jersey City, NJ
Interconnections, CitiLife, Jersey City, NJ
Same Difference, Willam V. Musto Cultural Center, Union City, NJ
Personal Perspectives, Maxwell’s, Hoboken, NJ
Reflections and Interpretations; works in paint and textile, Mack Cali, Jersey City, NJ
Dialogue Between 6 Painters, Citilife, Jersey City, NJ
The Glass Chronicles, Solo Show, GP’s Hamilton Park, Jersey City, NJ
ProArts Members Show, City Hall, Jersey City, NJ
2013
We 6, AlleyArts, Jersey City, NJ
Big Small Painting Show, Victory Hall Drawing Rooms, Jersey City, NJ
Rock Soup, TenMarc, Jersey City, NJ
Presence, ProArts Members Show, Jersey City, NJ
SJC+Art, Victory Hall Drawing Rooms, Jersey City, NJ
Four Word Process, City Hall, Jersey City, NJ
Celebrate!, RSI Bank, Rahway, NJ
We 6, AlleyArts, Jersey City, NJ
2012
Passion for Color, Sawadee Thai Restaurant and Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
ProArts Members Show. TenMark . Jersey City, NJ
Urban Legends. Seton Hall Uni. School of Law. Newark, NJ
Beyond the Garden. AlleyArts. Jersey City, NJ
Le Flaneur. NJCU Visual Arts Gallery. Jersey City, NJ.
Digable Arts Festival. Monore Arts Center. Hoboken, NJ.
Diversity Stride. Gilligan Student Union Gallery. Jersey City, NJ.
ARTICLES
The Source, "Spectrum Gallery Presents First Show of 2015". January 22, 2015.p52
New York Times, Events in New Jersey, image. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/06/nyregion/events-in-new-jersey-for-april-6-12- 2014.html?_r=0
Hortillosa, Summer D. "Complementary Colors: Mollie Thonneson and Alan Walker Are Perfect Match in Art and Love"
Jersey City Independent. February 19, 2013. http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/2013/02/19/complementary-colors-mollie-thonneson-and-alan-walker-are-perfect-match-in-art- and-love/
Hortillosa, Summer D. “NJCU grad’s paintings find ‘gems among city’s chaos’”.
The Jersey Journal. May 5, 2012. p14
http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2012/05/jersey_city_painter_has_show_a.html
Tuchman, Laura J. “A Midsummer Melange of Brightness and Brooding”.
The Orange County Register. July 31, 1987. p28
2012. BFA. New Jersey City University. Jersey City, NJ.
1979-1981. Art Center College of Design. Pasadena, Ca.
EXHIBITIONS
2019
Wander, Art Fair 14c, Hyatt Regency, Jersey City, NJ
Identity, The Gallery Space, Rahway, NJ
Anti-Valentine, Art House Productions, Jersey City, NJ
Affordable Art Show, Art House Productions, Jersey City, NJ
2017
New Jersey and You, Village West Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
Alan Walker and Mollie Thonneson, Rotunda Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
Solstice, Pro Arts Jersey City , NJ
Whatever, The Raven, Jersey City, NJ
She Speaks, Gallery Aferro, Newark, NJ
Do Not Be Afraid, City Hall, Jersey City, NJ
The Raven Turns 3!, The Raven, Jersey City, NJ
2016
Dyad, Mollie Thonneson and Alan Walker, Saint Peter's University, Jersey City, NJ
Wearable Art, The Raven, Jersey City, NJ
Up In Arms! The Raven, Jersey City, NJ
Moment's Notice, Newark Open Doors Group Show, Newark, NJ
What Do You Have To Say?, Pro Arts Members Show, Jersey City, NJ
Power in Fragility, Mack Cali business center, Jersey City, NJ
Untitled Group Show, Barrow Mansion, Jersey City, NJ
2015
Curators Choice, Jersey City Art Museum, Jersey City, NJ
Mostly Drawing, Victory Hall Drawing Rooms, Jersey City, NJ
Solo Show, 85 Market Street, Newark, NJ
A Show of Hands: The Fiber Arts, Spectrum Gallery, Centerbrook, CT
Baker's Dozen, Arts Guild, Rahway, NJ
Kinetic Color, Modern Sage, Jersey City, NJ
The Raven Turns 2!, The Raven, Jersey City, NJ
2014
Big Small Painting Show, Victory Hall Drawing Rooms, Jersey City, NJ
Curator’s Choice 2014, Jersey City Museum, Jersey City, NJ
Interconnections, CitiLife, Jersey City, NJ
Same Difference, Willam V. Musto Cultural Center, Union City, NJ
Personal Perspectives, Maxwell’s, Hoboken, NJ
Reflections and Interpretations; works in paint and textile, Mack Cali, Jersey City, NJ
Dialogue Between 6 Painters, Citilife, Jersey City, NJ
The Glass Chronicles, Solo Show, GP’s Hamilton Park, Jersey City, NJ
ProArts Members Show, City Hall, Jersey City, NJ
2013
We 6, AlleyArts, Jersey City, NJ
Big Small Painting Show, Victory Hall Drawing Rooms, Jersey City, NJ
Rock Soup, TenMarc, Jersey City, NJ
Presence, ProArts Members Show, Jersey City, NJ
SJC+Art, Victory Hall Drawing Rooms, Jersey City, NJ
Four Word Process, City Hall, Jersey City, NJ
Celebrate!, RSI Bank, Rahway, NJ
We 6, AlleyArts, Jersey City, NJ
2012
Passion for Color, Sawadee Thai Restaurant and Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
ProArts Members Show. TenMark . Jersey City, NJ
Urban Legends. Seton Hall Uni. School of Law. Newark, NJ
Beyond the Garden. AlleyArts. Jersey City, NJ
Le Flaneur. NJCU Visual Arts Gallery. Jersey City, NJ.
Digable Arts Festival. Monore Arts Center. Hoboken, NJ.
Diversity Stride. Gilligan Student Union Gallery. Jersey City, NJ.
ARTICLES
The Source, "Spectrum Gallery Presents First Show of 2015". January 22, 2015.p52
New York Times, Events in New Jersey, image. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/06/nyregion/events-in-new-jersey-for-april-6-12- 2014.html?_r=0
Hortillosa, Summer D. "Complementary Colors: Mollie Thonneson and Alan Walker Are Perfect Match in Art and Love"
Jersey City Independent. February 19, 2013. http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/2013/02/19/complementary-colors-mollie-thonneson-and-alan-walker-are-perfect-match-in-art- and-love/
Hortillosa, Summer D. “NJCU grad’s paintings find ‘gems among city’s chaos’”.
The Jersey Journal. May 5, 2012. p14
http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2012/05/jersey_city_painter_has_show_a.html
Tuchman, Laura J. “A Midsummer Melange of Brightness and Brooding”.
The Orange County Register. July 31, 1987. p28