About The Artist

I started oil painting at the age of 10, roughly about the same time that my parents got divorced. My painting instructor had a file of images that I could paint from, and I always chose the images of barns. Looking back on it, I think this was because my grandparents had a barn, and through all the upheaval in my life at the time, this one symbol came to mean something stable, immovable, sheltering and safe; this barn is the only structure that remains from their former property.

I recently felt compelled to revisit this idea of the barn- a heavy, seemingly permanent structure in my work. Of course, my approach is different than it was 34 years ago, but the symbol still affects me and surrounds me and now even my studio is inside a barn. This concept of a memory of home, a sense of place and shelter within it, has expanded to include my own surroundings, my ever present memories yet created. This small urban farm I spend time living and working upon, each day influenced by the colors of life, by the lines and the shape of “home,” and a sense of permanence in this place where I create my life and shape my memories.

Jennifer Damas received her M.F.A. from the Academy of Art University and her B.F.A. from San Jose State, where she focused her studies on painting and printmaking. She has exhibited work across the Bay Area and beyond, including the Triton Museum of Santa Clara, Gallery O’Boy, The Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts and the Red Poppy Art House. She currently lives and works in Vallejo.


EDUCATION
2009 MFA, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
1999 BFA, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017 "Homecoming," Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
2016 “Unusual Circumstances,” Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
2012 “Records Kept,” Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
2010 “Brief and Boundless,” Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
2009 “In the In-Between,” Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
2008 “Traces of Time,” Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
2003 “My Grandparent’s Barn, Recent Work,” Porfilio Is Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2000 “Recent Work,” Gallery O-Boy!, San Francisco, CA
1999 “BFA Final Exhibition,” San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2017 "Same, Same, But Different,” Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
2014 “Same, Same, But Different,” Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
2014 “Vestiges,” Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
2012 Art Hamptons, Hang Art, Bridgehampton, NY
2011 “AAU Faculty Exhibition,” 79 New Montgomery Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2010 “The Affordable Art Fair,” Hang Art, New York, NY
2010 “Hospitality House Auction,” Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2008 “Spring Show,” Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
2007 “Levels of Abstraction,” Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
2005 “Mission Arts and Performance Project,” Million Fishes Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2004 “Continuation,” Red Poppy Art House, San Francisco, CA
2004 “Responding,” Red Poppy Art House, San Francisco, CA
2004 “Mission Arts and Performance Project,” The Red Garage, San Francisco, CA
2004 “New & Emerging Artists,” Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, San Francisco, CA
2001 “Student Work,” John F. Kennedy University, Berkeley, CA
2001 “Hidden Signs,” Fringe Gallery & Salon, San Francisco, CA
1999 “The Five Goats,” San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
1999 “Holiday Auction,” Triton Museum, Santa Clara, CA
1998 “Recent Work,” San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
1998 “Group Sculpture Show,” San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
artbusiness.com (April 2010)
absoultearts.com (February 2009)

AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES
2011 Fellowship, Venice Printmaking Studio, Venice, Italy
2009 Valedictorian, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
1999 Graduated with Honors, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Academy of Art University, B.F.A. and M.F.A. instructor and directed study advisor, courses include mixed media and abstract painting