OM.2026.099 - Jennifer Evens - USA

OM.2026.099 - collage on panel - 8 x 8 inches - Untitled - Jennifer Evens - USA - Visual Poetry and Color

 Jennifer Evans is a California-educated, multidisciplinary visual artist specializing in textile art, art quilts, and paper collage. Deeply rooted in cultural anthropology, her work explores themes of intersectional identity, storytelling, feminism, and the universal human desire for community and connection. [1, 2, 3]

Artistic Mediums & Key Series

Evans began her formal studio practice in 2010, heavily drawing from traditional craft methods to construct narratives. Her work spans two primary categories: [1]

• Paper Collages & The Blue Women Series: Begun in 2021, this series contains nearly 200 distinct paper collages. It investigates the multi-faceted identities of women, portraying them in varied emotional states—from contemplative and sorrowful to joyful. [1, 2]
• Textile Collages & Art Quilts: Drawing directly from the historical lineages of quilting and fabric arts found across global cultures, she builds layered compositions out of fabrics and found items. She uses the literal structure of thread and cloth to mirror how people are "woven" or "stitched" into families. [1, 2]

Academic Background & Inspiration

Her distinct focus on cultural narratives stems from her unique educational background:

• Folklore Major: She studied Folklore at the University of California, Berkeley, focusing intensely on the art, crafts, beliefs, and traditional stories of diverse cultures. [1, 2]
• The Magpie Philosophy: Embracing the magpie as her professional logo, Evans identifies with the bird's inquisitive nature and tendency to collect scattered "shiny and rusty" objects, which she reassembles into art. [1]

Residencies & Exhibitions

Her career is marked by international research and regular contemporary gallery showings:

• Collage Expedition Los Angeles 2025 - Evans was selected to participate in the week long expedition with Les Jones and Cecil Touchon working with only locally found materials, the group conducted an contemporary archeological survey of the city producing collage based artworks for a group exhibition that concluded the week.
• Kolaj Institute: Selected for multiple artist residencies (in 2022 and 2024) through the Kolaj Magazine Artist Directory in Sanquhar, Scotland, where she researched local folklore surrounding witches.
• Gallery Representation: A member artist at Spark Gallery in Denver, she has also been featured in major group exhibitions such as the Speed of a Dream showcase at the Dama Gallery in Downtown Los Angeles. [1, 2, 3]