JON TESTA





Mean Folk + making photographs.


Design portfolio available upon request.
INFO





Location
Burlington, Vermont





Select Clients
Condé Nast
Four Loko
Jackrabbit Brewing Co.
PBS Vermont
Smith Optics
Strange Ways
Urban Outfitters





Exhibitions
HONK! — Group
Colours May Vary
Leeds, England


Everything Is Narrative — Group
Subjectively Objective
Detroit, MI


Pin & Patch Show — Group
East West Shop
Los Angeles, CA


PROJECTS
EMAIL: JON@MEANFOLK.COM








1. ALL IN GOOD TIME
Ongoing


A photo series that captures the bookends of my parents' lives. My mother passed away suddenly in the fall of 2017, and my father in the summer of 2025.

After my father's passing, I discovered a multi-decade archive of his negatives. I sequenced these photographs to understand my parents better and provide a visual portrait of their lives in the absence of firsthand stories. By pairing them with my own work, I aim to showcase how a home can change both physically and emotionally, and to animate the stagnant feeling when one partner passes before the other.

The project ended as abruptly as it began, but its duration helped me process my changing perspective on home, serving as an exercise in patience and the acceptance of loss.
       






2. HARD SAYING NOT KNOWING
Self-published, 2023
Hard cover, 100 pages


Photographs taken over a 3 year period with the goal of creating a photo essay that embraces the New England phrase, “hard saying not knowing.”

The project showcases scenes in Vermont that appear liminal or mundane, leaving the viewer with more questions than answers. Copies are available for purchase here.








    3. FLAVOR POWDER
    Self-published, 2020
    • Soft cover, 196 pages


    A body of work made during the COVID-19 lockdown observing neighborhoods and suburban landscapes. I used this opportunity to drive around regularly, exploring spaces that would otherwise have limited access. 

    My process took place at daily intervals between sunset and blue hour, establishing a visual harmony informed by specific timing and light. 







    4. PortraitsA collection of friends, artists, and strangers.



    © 2026