Hello!
Jennifer King is a Los Angeles based artist, curator, and adjunct professor.
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Statement:
Painting primarily in oils on canvas, my work confronts themes of femininity and power in contemporary life. I create images through a mix of the imagined and the observed, featuring figures. I'm passionate about portraying female and male figures in non-traditional ways, showing a balance of power and illustrating the different experiences of the male vs female gaze. The concepts of my work are inspired by John Berger's "Ways of Seeing". The larger-than-life figures I paint exude feelings of uncertainty, unease, disconnect, but also strength and heightened awareness. Her environment constrains her. There exists a sense of longing and desire to break out of her confined space, to be a strong female individual, ignoring anyone's expectations. Subtle expressions are contrasted with vibrant, sensual colors; her way of grabbing your attention. In contrast, and in an effort to add balance to the art world, my paintings of men approach the male nude in the same way women have been routinely painted, as lounging, decorative, vulnerable, sexual objects; but this time for the female gaze.
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CV:
Born
1988, Orange County, California
Education
2017, MFA, Studio Art, Claremont Graduate University, GPA 4.0
2011, BFA, Cum Laude, Painting and Drawing, California State University Fullerton, GPA 3.57
Exhibitions
2024 group - "Eight Directions", Coastline Art Gallery, Newport Beach, CA
group - "California Cool", Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
2023 two person show - "Spiritus Mundi", Virginia Steele Scot museum, Knoll house, Pasadena, CA
group - featured guest artist for "And Art Laguna", Artist Open Studio Event, Laguna Beach, CA
2022 group - "Art Town", Fullerton Art Museum, Fullerton, CA
2021 group - "Drawn to Paper", Brea Art Gallery, Brea, CA
2020 group - "Made in California", Brea Art Gallery, Brea, CA
group - "8.5x11", Golden West Art Gallery, Huntington Beach, CA
2019 group - "Faculty Group Show", Mt San Antonio College Art Gallery, Walnut, CA
2018 group - "The Art of the Self", Golden West College Art Gallery, Huntington Beach, CA
group - "Embodiment", Norco College Art Gallery, Norco, CA
2017 group - "Winter Showcase", The Montalban Theater, Los Angeles, CA
group - "SoCal MFA", Millard Sheets Art Center, Pomona, CA
solo - "She-Ra", East Gallery, Claremont, CA
group - "GLAMFA", Cal State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
2016 group - "SoCal MFA", Millard Sheets Art Center, Pomona, CA
2015 group - "Squaring the Circle", Peggy Phelps Gallery, Claremont, CA
2014 group - OAA's 18th annual juried show, Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center, Anaheim, CA
2011 solo - “Cryptic Thoughts”, Exit Gallery, CSUF, Fullerton, CA
Curating Experience
2025 TBA, Pollak Library Art Gallery, California State University Fullerton, CA
2016 "Time Machine", Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
"New Sensations", Claremont City Hall, Claremont, CA
2015 "Other Worlds", Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2014 "Children of Rorschach", Phone Booth Gallery, Long Beach, CA
"Conversing In Color", Laguna Inkspot, Laguna Beach, CA
"Morpheus", Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2013 “Blood & Oil”, Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
"Shifting Conditions", P.A.S. gallery, Fullerton CA
2012 "VHS Nightmares", Cultural Center Gallery, Anaheim, CA
2011—2012 Curated art shows at Weavver Gallery, Fullerton, CA
Residency
July 2017, Los Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Artist Residency
Lectures + Workshops
2018-2023, Culturama Workshops for Mt San Antonio College, Walnut, CA
2017, Visiting Artist Lecture for LCAD Art History class, Laguna College of Art and Design, Laguna Beach, CA
Bibliography
EMS video "The Knoll House: Jennifer King and Matt Locke", https://youtu.be/FM-blKgsAQc?si=7pEuyz2XHsrotCCF
Interview by "I Like Your Work", https://www.ilikeyourworkpodcast.com/post/artist-jennifer-king
Interview by Shoutout SoCal, https://shoutoutsocal.com/meet-jennifer-king-artist/
Interview by VoyageLA, http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-jennifer-king/
EMS video "Jennifer King: She-Ra", https://youtu.be/u0DOL6fumUc
