Q & A with Jennifer Small

How did you come to be an artist?

I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be an artist, or at the very least be involved in a creative career. I am happiest when I am making and have felt that way since I was little so I guess, in a way, I've always been an artist. Professionally, I started out as an art educator and about 5 years transitioned into working as a visual designer. My career as a painter has always been happening at the same time.

Who are your artistic influences?

Historically, I consider Georgia O'Keeffe, Richard Diebenkorn, Helen Frankenthaler, and the Cubists (Picasso and Braque) influences. Contemporary painters that influence me lately include Thomas Nozkowski, Beverly Fishman, Wendy White, and Deborah Zlotsky.

How has the past year and a half been for your art making process?

Busy! I have made a ton of new work and have had several exhibition opportunities come up, both virtual and in-person. At the beginning of the lock-down, I was determined to make use of the time that I no longer spent commuting to my design job to make new work and learn how I could make more connections with galleries and collectors.

Tell us about a memorable exhibition you have seen.

I saw Bisa Butler: Portraits at the Art Institute of Chicago this summer and both the work and her story were incredible. Her quilted portraits were made like a painting, each piece of fabric was equivalent to a brushstroke of paint, meticulously arranged and sewn together with a traditional quilting process to create larger than life figures filled with energetic vibrancy.

What has been your favorite place to travel?

So far, my favorite place to travel has been Amsterdam.

What's next on your bucket list?

Now that it's becoming safe to, I would like to travel more. There are so many places domestically and internationally that I would like to visit. Professionally, I would love to participate in a major art fair and paint a mural.