Jennifer Jean Okumura
450 Harrison Avenue, Studio #202
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Optimistic, In the NOW, provocative in a decorous way—these terms characterize me as an artist. Art and its ability to elevate people inspire me every day. On some level, art is life—my life. Artists stand on our predecessors' shoulders, capturing today's moment while embracing the past. As practicing artists, we are in tune with the activity of past and present, who push the envelope to the maximum of what is defined as art. With that said, I love this poem by Jorge Luis Borges (from "Dreamtigers"), especially the line "Art must be like that mirror, that reveals to us this face of ours." I hope my works reveal this essence.
A hapa who grew up in Philadelphia, I attended Syracuse University and received my MFA from Boston University. Art and being an artist are therapy for me physically, psychologically, and spiritually. Mine now reflects my dual Buddhist-Catholic heritage. My work frequently explores the relationship between humans, nature, and objects. I think of art as an objective homage to my Eastern and Western traditions and the raw architecture and sounds of the city—adding conflict, balance, and harmony to shape my work's form and energy in my constant search for new noise and passion.
Selected exhibitions include Urbanside Gallery Zurich February-March 4, 2022, Scope 2022, ArtExpo 2021, 'Contemporary Surroundings' at Sapphire & Ventura Gallery, Swiss Art Expo Zurich 2020, Van Der Plas Gallery, Red Dot Miami, 'Harmony & Clash' at Multicultural Arts Center, Cambridge, 'Earned: Women in Business & Labor' Scollay Square Gallery, Boston, 'Botanica' (poster child) at Cahoon Museum of American Art, 'Breaking Ground' at Walter J. Manninen Center for the Arts, Endicott College, Les ar- rêts de la vie Solo exhibition at the French Cultural Center Boston, 'Invoking the Muse' at Coral Springs Museum of Art, 'Strokes of Genius' at RAA & Museum, 'A Current Vision' at Whistler House Museum of Art and 'Visual Contrasts' at Coral Springs Museum Art.
Featured works in The Vendue Art Hotel, MA State Senate, Sen. Will Brownsberger, Four Seasons, Kayak, Boston Consulting Group, Boston College Office of Marketing Communications, Morgan Stanley, Acadian Asset, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Collection, Aetna Corp. Collection, & Private Collections.
Press include MiA Mag Special Ed. 2022 and V. 5 2021, International Contemporary Artists art book, vol. XII; BigScreen Plaza Manhattan; Artist Talk Magazine; WhereBoston 'Romance Galleries' Cover; American Art Review; Kivo Daily; Thrive Global, Disrupt Magazine. VIDEO
Represented by: realartrealartists.com, House of Roulx, Saphira & Ventura Gallery NYC, Westport River Gallery, Invoke Contemporary, @theartling.
Okumura has exhibited in Swiss Art Expo ZÜRICH, Art Metropole Europe Barcelona, Spain, Urbanside Gallery Zurich February-March 4, 2022.