Jenny Nelson

My work has always been anchored in drawing. I spent years drawing and painting from life. This instilled a strong sense of space and structure. At some point I became more interested in the negative space surrounding the objects I was observing and modifying the objects themselves. I began to organically develop an abstract language, but the sense of structure and organization remained constant in the painting.

I apply paint in layers using palette knives, brushes and oil sticks. I initially draw loose gestures and a variety of spontaneous marks. Often traces of previous layers remain visible, allowing colors to interact in ways I could not have anticipated. This process leaves me feeling quite lost a lot of the time, and I have had to learn to become comfortable with that feeling. This sometimes builds to frustration, and I will scape off much of what was applied, but the result of doing this is often something wonderful that moves the painting forward.

I view the painting process as a collaboration between myself and the materials. A conversation starts that has a beginning and an end, but everything in between is unpredictable. It seems at first some exciting things may show up but it’s important to disregard these first, too beautiful bursts, work over them, and develop something deeper from them. As the painting evolves, shapes and lines solidify, and I begin to see how the parts affect the whole.

This way of layering, adding and subtracting, creates a history on the canvas. Shapes have a story to tell. Lines that have been obliterated and resurrected over and over again have an emotional charge. This process that started as a wild party ends up as a contemplative carefully edited composition, involving precise modifications, while hopefully leaving the life force in tact.

Resume

Jenny Nelson attended Maine College of Art in Portland Maine, and is a graduate of Bard College, where she received a scholarship to the Lacoste School of the Arts in France. She has been living in Woodstock, New York for nearly two decades, including a Residency at the Byrdcliffe Art Colony from November 2004-08. Jenny has been exhibiting for many years nationally and regionally including, Tria Gallery, Manhattan, NY; Hidell Brooks Gallery in Charlotte, North Carolina; Carrie Haddad, Hudson, NY.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:

Solo Shows:

2019 Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson, NY

2019 Hidell Brooks Gallery, Charlotte NC

2018 Light Waves, Hidell Brooks Gallery, Charlotte NC

2017 New Works, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson NY

2016 Sailing in Place, Hidell Brooks Gallery, Charlotte NC

2013 Traveling Light, Tria Gallery, Manhattan NY

2012 New Work, Smink Modern, Dallas TX

2012 New Work, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson NY

2011 Awakenings (Duo with Keun Young Park) Tria Gallery, Manhattan NY

2010 New Paintings, Chace-Randall Gallery, Andes NY

2008 Autumn Elegance, Asher Neiman Gallery, Red Bank NJ

2008 The Light Between, Chace-Randall Gallery, Andes NY

2007 New Work, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson NY

2006 Of Line and Light, Chace-Randall Gallery, Andes NY

2006 Abstractions, Gallery 100, Saratoga NY

2005 Spring Collection, Coffey Gallery, Kingston NY

2005 New Work, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson NY

2004 Summer, Omega Institute, Rhinebeck NY

2004 New Work, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson NY

2003 Paintings from Shady, Coffey Gallery, Kingston NY

2001 Fisher Studio Art Gallery, Annandale-on-Hudson

Group Exhibitions:

2018 20th Anniversary Show, Hidell Brooks Gallery, Charlotte, NC

2017 Due East: Woodstock Artists in Nantucket, Nantucket Arts Center, Nantucket, MA

2017 Composition: The Abstract Landscape, Kleinert/James Gallery, Woodstock NY

2014 Women in Abstract, Hidell Brooks Gallery, Charlotte NC

2013 Hidell Brooks Anniversary Show, Hidell Brooks Gallery, Charlotte, NC

2013 AD Boston Art Fair, Gold Gallery, Boston

2012 Contemporary Painters, Carrie Haddad Gallery Hudson, NY

2012 Featured Artist, Dragonfly Gallery, Martha's Vineyard, MA

2012 Tria Gallery Summer Exhibition, Manhattan, NY

2012 AAF NYC, Tria Gallery, Manhattan, NY

2011 Featured Artist, Dragonfly Gallery, Martha's Vineyard, MA

2011 AAF NYC, Tria Gallery, Manhattan, NY

2011 Figures and Abstractions, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson NY

2010 Art Hamptons, Tria Gallery, Manhattan NY

2010 Featured Artist, Dragonfly Gallery, Martha's Vineyard MA

2009 LA Art Fair, Bryant Street Gallery, Palo Alto CA

2009 Curators Choice, Chace-Randall Gallery, Andes NY

2009 Instructors Exhibition, Woodstock School of Art, Woodstock NY

2009 Group Exhibition, Bryant Street Gallery, Palo Alto CA

2009 Small Works, Anne Irwin Fine Art, Atlanta GA

2009 Winter White, Tria Gallery, Manhattan NY

2009 Contrasts, Anne Irwin Fine Art, Atlanta GA

2009 AAF NYC Tria Gallery, Manhattan NY

2008 Summer Cocktail, Tria Gallery, Manhattan NY

2008 5"x7" Show, Kleinart-James Gallery, Woodstock NY

2007 Faculty Plus One, Columbia Greene Community College, Hudson NY

2007 Art Basel Miami, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson NY

2007 One New Work, Chace-Randall Gallery, Andes NY

2007 5"x7" Show, Kleinart-James Gallery, Woodstock, NY

2006 Beach, Gallery Yellow, Cross River NY

2006 Flow, Kleinart/James Gallery, Woodstock, NY

2006 Group Exhibition, James Cox Gallery, Woodstock NY

2006 Collectors Choice, Kleinert/James Gallery, Woodstock NY

2005 Group Exhibition, Chace Randall Gallery, Andes NY

2005 Passionate About Art, Kleinert/James Gallery, Woodstock NY

2005 New Talent, Alpha Gallery, Boston MA

2004 Six Women Painters, Albert Shahinian Fine Art, Poughkeepsie NY

2004 New York Underground Art Fair, Pool Art Addict, Four Points Hotel NY

2003 Senate House Show, Kingston NY

2002 Group Exhibition, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson NY

Juried Exhibitions:

2004 Woodstock Artists Association, Woodstock NY

2002 Hudson Valley Artists 2002, Samuel Dorsky Museum, New Paltz NY

Selected Collections:

Warren Bierwirth, Paris, France

Cecilia Greene, New York NY

Helen Chapman, New York NY

Michael & Sheila Faharty, New York NY

Christopher Dlutowski, New York NY

Jim & Dianne Footlicke, New York NY

Laurent Gaudry, New York NY

Nancy Seigal, Boca Raton FL

Holli Gersh, Boca Raton FL

Kenneth & Margaret Uhle, Ridgefield CT

Dr. Lee Sider, Mt. Tremper NY

Friedrike Merck, Woodstock NY

Weston & Julia Blelock, Woodstock NY

Miller Howard Investments, Woodstock NY

Kingston Hospital, Kingston NY

Media:

Jenny Nelson, Accidental Storyteller, Carrie Haddad Gallery, 2017

Jenny Nelson's chaos, Hudson Valley One, 2017

A Conversation with Artist Jenny Nelson,, Blog Talk Radio, 2017

Jenny Nelson | Art, Work & Showing Up, Best Self Magazine, 2016

Artist Spotlight Series, The English Room Blog, 2016

Three Abstract Artists Christie Scheele Blog, 2013

Modern NYC, Review, "Traveling Light" at Tria Gallery, 2013

Off the Palette, HV Biz, Interview, July 2011

In Her Own Words,Times-Herald Record article, DB Leonard, February 2011

Balance in the Abstract, Roll Magazine Feature Article, May 2010

Catskill Mountain News, Review, May 2010

The 60/60 Portrait Project with Franco Vogt, December 2009

Roll Magazine, Cover Artist, December 2009

Studio Visit Magazine, Fall Edition 2008

Spring Awakening,Woodstock Times Feature Article, Paul Smart, June 2008

"Blue Bird" Featured in Beautiful Homes Magazine, Summer 2007

"Float" Featured in Universal Studios movie: Definitely, Maybe

Directed by Adam Brooks 2007 release

Woodstock Times, Review, Paul Smart, May 2006

Art New England, August 2005

Pulse Magazine, Nick Chassman, Review, June 2005

Woodstock Times, Review, Paul Smart, April 2004

Guide Magazine, Featured Artist, December 2003

Kingston Freeman, Review, Mary Cassai, August 2001

Woodstock Times, Review, Phyllis Gilbert, July 2000

Education & Awards:

Portland School of Art, Portland, Me 1988

Bard College, Annandale on Hudson, NY 1998-2001

Lacoste School of the Arts, Lacoste, France 2000

Scholarship: Lacoste School of the Arts

Residency, Nantucket Center for the Arts June 2018

Residency, Byrdcliffe Art Colony 2004-08

Guest Speaker: Syracuse University Visiting Artist Lecture Series 2017

Instructor, Woodstock School of Art 2009-present

Board of Advisors, Woodstock School of Art

Juror ASK, Art Society of Kingston, Regional Juried Show 2014

Juror WAAM, Woodstock Artist Association and Museum 2018