Artist Kristin Cronic Announces New Exhibit “skin \ bones” at Touché Gallery

JACKSONVILLE, Florida (December 10, 2025) – Jacksonville-based artist Kristin Rae Cronic is debuting her newest series of work, called “skin \ bones,” at Touché Gallery in Jacksonville, beginning Friday, January 16, 2026, with an opening reception from 6pm to 9pm. Born and raised in the Bold City, Cronic began exploring her art while serving as an officer in the United States Navy. Long deployments at sea gave her time to consider the intricacies of nature, ultimately leading her to a deep connection between the wonders of the world and the complexity of the human condition. “skin \ bones” is a meditation on trees, reimagining them as psychological portraits.

“I had ideas for an arboreal exploration series in 2019, but I really had to work on what I wanted to say and how to sustainably produce the final pieces – the work is enormous, and that is part of the message,” says artist Kristin Rae Cronic. “Trees as both individuals and forests offer delight, wisdom, and even warnings, revealing much if we simply pause and look. I explore trees as if they were figures, drawing parallels and gaining a better understanding of my own humanity and how societal forces have shaped it.” 

Cronic is a full-time artist and works as a drawing professor at Jacksonville University. For the past five years, she took commissions and booked live painting sessions. This left little time and headspace to fully immerse herself in fleshing out a new project. Then, Cronic got some fantastic news. She is one of 60 artists who received a grant through The Inaugural Artist Grant Program, provided in partnership by Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville and City of Jacksonville. This allowed her the time to pursue what would become “skin \ bones.”

“skin \ bones” reimagines tree forms as counterpoints to and metaphors for the human condition. Singular yet interconnected, extraordinary yet mundane, these arboreal figures persist in their becoming, often despite devastating damage. The paintings are monumental, mostly over 74” tall, and made on unstretched canvas. The size of the canvases is integral to the exhibit’s more profound meaning. Cronic says, “I recall [studying] one tree in particular: a 400-year-old oak, taking up space and making her environment richer. I'd spent so much effort trying to make myself smaller in every way, yet this matriarch was there the entire time, patiently waiting for me to finally notice the obvious: smaller isn’t always better.”

“skin \ bones” is on display at the Touché Gallery, located at 4070 Herschel Street, Suite 3, in Jacksonville, beginning Friday, January 16, 2026, with an opening celebration from 6pm to 9pm. The exhibit will be on display through Friday, February 20, 2026, with a closing reception from 6pm to 9pm.

ABOUT KRISTIN RAE CRONIC: Kristin Rae Cronic is a Jacksonville-based artist who began her artistic journey at night while serving as an officer in the United States Navy. Cronic’s work uses natural elements to explore the human psyche. She is also a drawing professor at Jacksonville University. Her newest exhibit, skin \ bones, is being shown January 16, 2026 through February 20, 2026 at Touché Gallery, located at 4070 Herschel Street, Suite 3, in Jacksonville. Photos to accompany this release are available here. Photos compliments of the artist. Learn more at www.KristinRaeCronic.com and follow along on Instagram @KristinRaeCronic