In preparation for our recently installed exhibition in Roosevelt Hall, Body of the World, we at The Escalette Collection have immersed ourselves in the life and work of Inna Jane Ray. This exhibit is not just a celebration of her incredible talent but also a showcase of her profound relationship with the natural world.

Body of the World was curated by the Escalette Collection’s 2024 Summer Interns: Cassie Chan (Art History ’25) and Bella Marinos (Studio Art ’24).

Sketchbook 6, page 45a. Courtesy of Bonne Barrett.

Cassie and Bella’s curatorial process began with a diligent study of Ray’s sketchbooks, which span four decades of her creative endeavors, including personal annotations and snippets of poetry. Within these pages, written in her now familiar handwriting, we found what would become the title and theme of our exhibit:

“Yes — and coming back alive — feeling the forms of the trees, the colors, the living body of the world — it felt like the lights came back on — Responding to the world touching my senses — I cannot be an abstract painter, not a painter of inner visions or symbols — the figure stands in nature, in trees, land forms, bodies. The body of the world BODY BODY — this is what I lost in El Cerrito, my body. The artist’s body. I have returned to my body, and the Eastern Sierra — not to paint its body, our body — my Last Adventure, my ‘retirement’.”

Having grown up in the San Gabriel Valley, Ray’s family shared a love of the outdoors, spending weekends hiking and camping in the surrounding areas. These early experiences fostered a lifelong affinity for the environment, leaving an indelible mark on her work. Her artistic journey began in childhood, where her talent led her to local workshops and eventually to Immaculate Heart College in Hollywood, where she honed her skills in painting and photography, graduating with a BA in Art.

After college, Ray’s life took her down various paths, including the San Francisco Bay Area, where she immersed herself in figure painting. In addition to her visual art, Ray’s interest in and personal experiences with religion led her to pursue a master’s degree in theology at Berkeley’s Graduate Theological Union, further influencing the spiritual and philosophical depth of her work.

Inna Ray, A Year Spent at Leisure in the Shelter of the Crazy Trees, Summer, watercolor, gouache, and color pencil on cotton paper, 2013. Gift of the Estate of Inna Ray

In 2010, Ray relocated to the Eastern Sierra, a move that marked a significant chapter in her life and art. Living in a travel trailer that doubled as her studio, she explored the landscapes she inhabited, accompanied by her camera to capture the images that would serve as the foundation for her compositions. This nomadic lifestyle, combined with her deep reverence for the environment, infused her work with a powerful sense of place and presence.

Body of the World brings together a selection of Ray’s works that reflect this intertwining of nature and identity. From her early sketches to her later paintings, each piece in the exhibit offers a glimpse into Ray’s connection with the world around her. We are thrilled to share Body of the World with you and extend the opportunity to experience the extraordinary art of Inna Jane Ray so that you may come to appreciate her and her work as deeply as we have.

We encourage you to visit Body of the World in the first floor hallway of Roosevelt Hall. This exhibition will be on display until November 7, 2024.

We invite you to explore all the works in the Escalette Collection by visiting our eMuseum. 

Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is the proud home of the Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art. The Escalette Collection exists to inspire critical thinking, foster interdisciplinary discovery, and strengthen bonds with the community. Beyond its role in curating art in public spaces, the Escalette is a learning laboratory that offers diverse opportunities for student and engagement and research, and involvement with the wider community. The collection is free and open to the public to view.