ARTIST STATEMENT
The language of abstraction is broad and for me, poetic. My paintings are metaphors for myself, for my inner thoughts, and connections both conscious and unconscious. The process involves discovery of layers of meaning. I use elements of the landscape to express my ideas about space and color. I favor ambiguous shapes that stay free of description. Ambiguity allows a broader context for meanings and associations. I invent pictorial cues that are suggested by the painting. For example, a flat shape that casts a shadow. My imagination is a key to unlock unseen relationships. I do draw from nature, but retreat as quick as I can, to avoid getting sucked in.
The element of color is my strong suit, my best hand. I tend to favor close color harmonies and nuanced pairings. Using gouache has been central in developing my voice, as a flat, mat partner to the transparency of watercolor. Using both mediums together allows great spatial dexterity; the watercolor suggesting atmosphere, and the mat gouache being insistently flat.
I am drawn to the beauty of paper, the tactile surface, its limitless and deep white space, the expansive possibilities of it.
Mature artists develop a voice that is uniquely their own. For me, the symbolic landscape, my choice of medium and form, are my signature.
BIOGRAPHY
Jennifer Wiggs (1963-) is an American painter specializing in abstract works featuring simple shapes in subtle and complex color harmonies. She studied at Indiana University (BFA) and Washington University, St. Louis, MFA. She maintains an active studio at Orr Street Studios in Columbia, Missouri. She specializes in teaching color, design and painting with an emphasis on the creative process. Last year her work was included in the prestigious 58th Annual Watercolor USA National Exhibition, and The Bowery Gallery’s 28th National Exhibition, New York.
Contact Information: Jenwiggs33@gmail.com
CURRICULUM VITAE
Jennifer Ann Wiggs
106 ORR St Columbia, MO 65201
Jennwiggs.com 573-529-1177
Professional artist, professor, mentor. Expert in art instruction for adults. Maintains a studio at ORR St Studios, Columbia, MO.
Education:
1989 BFA Painting Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
1991 MFA Painting Washington University, St Louis, MO.
1986 Harry Engel Scholarship to Florence, Italy. Through Indiana University.
1989 Caumsett Painting Summer program. Queens College. Senior artists/faculty in attendance: Barbara Grossman, Stanley Lewis, Barry Gealt, Louis Finklestein, Gabriel Laderman, Norman Turner.
Selected Exhibitions:
2022 Bowery Gallery National 2022. New York, NY. Juror was Lance Esplund, writer/critic for Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News.
Desmosome. Kiosk Gallery. 1600 Genessee, Kansas City, Missouri. Washington University alumni show. Kioskgallerykc.com
2021 A Show in New York. Solo exhibition. Orr Street Studios, Columbia, Missouri.
2020 Small Works Exhibit. International. Kent State University. Juror: Gianna Commito.
A New Year, A New Vision. National. Stern Contemporary. 554 Canyon Rd, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
City of Overland Park at The Center, Overland Park, Kansas. National juried exhibition.
64Arts. Buchanan Center for the Arts. Monmouth, IL. National Exhibition. Juror: Samantha Grassi.
Watercolor USA. Springfield Art Museum. Juror Misa Jefferieis, Assistant Curator, Contemporary Art Museum,
St. Louis.
Muse. Online exhibition, international. Through Art-Fluent. Juror: Jackie Reeves.
Water Media National Exhibition, Dallas Metro Arts Contemporary. Juror: Christina Lucas, Pearce Museum of
Corsica.
2019 The Bowery Gallery 2019 National Competition. New York, NY. Juror: Ro Lohin.
58th Watercolor USA. Springfield Art Museum. International. Springfield Mo. Juror: Dean Mitchell.
Pittsburgh Society of Artists Aqueous Open 2019 International Exhibition. Juror: Frank Eber.
State of the Arts. R.G. Endre's Gallery. Prairie Village., KS. Juror: Erin Woodward, Leedy-Voulkos Gallery.
Exploration of Color. Montminy Gallery, Columbia, MO. Invitation.
2018 57th Watercolor USA. Springfield Art Museum. Springfield, MO. Juror: Kelly Kane, editor-in-chief,
Watercolor Artist Magazine.
Paper in Particular. National Juried Show. Columbia College. Columbia, Mo.
2017 Restraint and Limitation. Traveling show. Curated by Matthew Ballou, University of Missouri.
Invitation. Other artists including Sharon Butler.
Oxford Fine Arts, National Juried Exhibition. Pennsylvania, PA. Juror: Tom Paden. Brandywine Museum.
2016 Sager Braudis Gallery. Columbia, MO.
2013 Shaping a Metaphor: New Paintings by Jennifer Wiggs. ORR St. Studios. Columbia, MO.
2006 Missouri Watercolor National, Winston Churchill Memorial. Fulton, MO.
Missouri Watercolor Society Invitational, Columbia Art League, Columbia, MO.
2005 Missouri Watercolor National, Winston Churchill Memorial, Fulton, MO.
16th Annual Missouri Top 50, Missouri State fair. Sedalia, MO.
2004 Art St Louis, St Louis, MO.
2003 Watercolor USA, Springfield Art Museum.
2002 Taos National Exhibition of American Watercolor VI, Van Vichten-Lineberry Taos Art Museum.
15th Annual International Exhibition on Animals in Art, Baton Rouge, LA.
2001 Small and Miniature, Aaron Gallery, Washington, DC.
1999 River Market Regional, Kansas City Artist’s Coalition. Juror: Janet Bishop, San Francisco Museum of
Art.
1996 River Market Regional, Kansas City Artist’s Coalition, Kansas City, MO.
Great Midwest International, Central Missouri State Univ., Warrensburg, MO. Juror: Keith Crown.
Fourth St. Gallery, Kansas City, MO. Solo show.
Four Artists, Northern Indiana Art Assoc., Munster, IN.
Campanella Gallery, Solo show, Parkville, MO.
1994 MOAK, Four State Regional, Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, MO.
Art St Louis, St Louis Design Center. Juror: Richard Hunt.
Rivers of Color, St Louis Artist’s Guild, St Louis, MO. *award.
Academic Appointments:
2020 State Fair Community College. Sedalia, MO. Adjunct.
2017-2019 Stephens College, Columbia, MO. Adjunct.
2016 William Woods University. Fulton, MO.
2015 University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
2007 St Louis Community College, Wildwood, MO.
2002-2005 East Central College, Union, MO.
1993-98 Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
1992 Adjunct Faculty, St Louis Community College, St Louis, MO.
1991 Webster University, Webster Groves, MO.
Publications:
2019 Bowery Gallery press release:
http://www.bowerygallery.org/juriedshow_pressrelease2019.html
58th Annual Watercolor USA Exhibition, Springfield Museum of Art, Springfield, MO. Catalog, 2019.
Como Living Magazine. Down to a Fine Art.3/28/2019.
Vox Magazine. The Quick Vox Guide to Buying Art. 2019.
Vox Magazine. Q &A. 2018. Local Artist Jenn Wiggs Finds Reality Through Abstraction. Grant Sharples.
Salaan Magazine. Invitation. Published Fall 2019.
KBIA 91.3fm’s Thinking out Loud program. Jenn Wiggs, John Fennell, Scott Patrick-Myers. September 2019.
Watercolor USA. Catalog, 2018.
The Color and the Shape, by Amy Wilder, Columbia Tribune. Aug.25, 2013.
Living Artist’s, 14th edition. Published by ArtMarketing. Nevada City, CA.
Watercolor USA 2003, Catalog.
Missouri Life Magazine, Dec. 2003 Issue. Arts Review. Editor: Sonia Pai.
Missourian newspaper, People, Jan. 2004
River Market Regional, Catalog, 1996, 1999. Artist’s Coalition, KC, MO.
Gallery affiliations:
Strecker-Nelson West. Manhattan, KS
Sager Braudis Gallery, Columbia, MO
Jayne Gallery, Kansas City, MO
Kiosk Gallery, Kansas City, MO
Other Awards/Honors:
Watercolor USA Honor Society. Signature member.