Art
Artist Statement / Bio
Artist Statement
My artwork explores the tension between control and vulnerability. As the youngest of seven children, I became aware early in life of how little control we often have over the world around us. Since then, I have been interested in the relationship between individual agency and the larger social, political, and cultural forces that shape our lives.
Much of my recent work focuses on the female experience in contemporary society. I explore what it means to be seen and understood while navigating expectations, limitations, and contradictions placed upon women. Like many women, I often feel compelled to guard my deepest anxieties and vulnerabilities while existing in a culture that demands visibility and judgment. My work examines themes of autonomy, resilience, and self-determination, particularly during a time when many rights and freedoms, especially those affecting women, are increasingly contested.
Process is central to my practice. I am drawn to work that is challenging to create and requires patience, technical skill, and persistence. With more than thirty years of experience creating three-dimensional art, I continue to explore new materials and methods while maintaining a strong commitment to craftsmanship.
Even when my work reveals vulnerability, I strive to create objects that embody beauty, strength, and elegance. I believe art has a unique ability to connect people through shared experiences and honest dialogue. Through my work, I hope to encourage reflection, foster community, and create meaningful connections that help us better understand ourselves and one another.
Bio
My artwork has always centered around the theme of control. As the youngest of seven, I realized that I couldn’t control much of the world around me but have always strived to do so. I believe that much of what people are fighting for is simply a livable wage, equity, and the ability to pursue happiness. As individuals we are only small pieces of a much larger system, so we need to work together to make significant change. My work portrays this theme in a variety of ways such as a surfer riding a giant wave, or small mechanized units attempting to control a larger flowing form. Recently I have depicted the alienation many of us feel as we struggle with the current pandemic, lack of social interaction, and food insecurity. As we begin to close out the first quarter of the twenty-first century we are in a state of great societal turbulence, uncertainty, and reckoning. As an artist I hope to help elucidate these events, capture moments for posterity, and bring people together by incorporating personal experiences that have universal meaning.
CV / Resume
JENNIFER CANNON
San Jose, CA | jennifer@jcsculpture.com | www.jcsculpture.com
EDUCATION
| San Jose State University | 2022 |
| Master of Fine Art – Spatial Art | |
| Northern California Public Art Academy | 2009 |
| Bradley University | 1995 |
| B.S. Studio Art, Sculpture Emphasis | |
| Bradley University | 1988 |
| B.S. Marketing | |
| Science and Mathematics Emphasis |
AWARDS
| Special Mention Award – Teravarna Artist Grant | 2023 |
| Best of Show Third Place – Sioux Falls SculptureWalk | 2023 |
| Virtuoso Sculptor Certification – Sioux Falls SculptureWalk | 2021 |
| Best of Show II – Sioux Falls SculptureWalk | 2021 |
| Artistic Merit Award – Castlegar Sculpture Walk | 2018 |
| Best of Show II – Sioux Falls SculptureWalk | 2018 |
| Best of Show II – Sioux Falls SculptureWalk | 2016 |
| Third Prize – Sculpture for All | 2015 |
| Director’s Award – Sioux Falls SculptureWalk | 2012 |
| Advanced Student Sculptor of the Year | 1995 |
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
| Jennifer Cannon – You Don’t Know Me – Felix Kulpa Gallery - Santa Cruz, CA | 2025 |
| The Gown – Art Kiosk, Redwood City, CA | 2022 |
| The Gown – Jo Farb Hernandez Gallery, San Jose, CA | 2022 |
| The Dinner Date – Jo Farb Hernandez Gallery, San Jose, CA | 2020 |
| Reining in Water - Black Gallery, San Jose, CA | 2019 |
| Beginning Motherhood – University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL | 1998 |
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
| River City Sculptures on Parade – Mason City, IA | 2025 |
| Jewelry for Giants – Felix Kulpa Gallery, Santa Cruz, CA | 2023 |
| Women of the Foundry – Felix Kulpa Gallery, Santa Cruz, CA | 2023 |
| SculptureWalk Sioux Falls – Sioux Falls, SD | 2023 |
| Downtown Sculpture Walk – Johnson City, TN 2023- | 2024 |
| Lift Off - Institute for Contemporary Art – San Jose, CA | 2022 |
| Art in the Time of Corona – DAB Art, on-line, Los Angeles, CA | 2022 |
| Baytown Sculpture Trail – Baytown, TX | 2022 |
| Refamiliarization – Platform Artspace, Berkeley, CA | 2021 |
| Tinkering with Tools of Mass Production – San Jose State University | 2021 |
| SculptureWalk – Sioux Falls, SD | 2021 |
| Hutchinson Community College – Hutchinson, KS | 2020 |
| Sculpture Walk Downtown Hutchinson – Hutchinson, KS | 2020 |
| J. Crew Collection – San Jose State University – Herbert Sanders Gallery | 2020 |
| M.F.A Group Show – San Jose State University – Gallery II | 2019 |
| Art on the Town - Mankato, MN | 2019 |
| SculptureWalk - Sioux Falls, SD | 2018 |
| Castlegar Sculpture Walk - Castlegar, British Columbia | 2018 |
| River City Sculptures on Parade - Mason City, IA | 2017 |
| SculptureWalk - Sioux Falls, SD | 2016 |
| Sculpture for All - Nacogdoches, TX | 2015 |
| Art on the Street – Colorado Springs, CO | 2013 |
| SculptureWalk - Sioux Falls, SD | 2012 |
| Avera McKennan Sculpture Walk – Sioux Falls, SD | 2012 |
| Urban Trees – San Diego, CA | 2010 |
| Urban Trees – San Diego, CA | 2008 |
| Urban Trees – San Diego, CA | 2007 |
| Bradley University Student Show – Peoria, IL | 1995 |
SELECTED PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
| Washington Pavilion – Sioux Falls, South Dakota | |
| Transit Center - City of Durango, Colorado | |
| Hanna Springs Sculpture Garden - Lampasas, Texas | |
| Triangle Park – City of Imperial Beach, California | |
| Sarah’s Vineyard – Gilroy, California | |
| Magee Women’s Hospital – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | |
| River City Sculptures on Parade - Mason City Iowa | |
| Complete Dental Care – Sioux Falls, South Dakota |
TECHNICAL SKILLS
| Aluminum, steel and stainless-steel fabrication | |
| Stone carving | |
| Bronze casting, aluminum casting, bi-metal casting, silver casting, glass casting | |
| Mold making in silicone, latex and plaster | |
| Epoxy resins, fiberglass, paper casting | |
| Laser cutting |
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
| San Jose State University – Lecturer | 2026-Present |
| Evergreen Valley Community College – Adjunct Professor | 2023-Present |
| San Jose State University – Teaching Associate | 2021-2022 |
| Sakamoto Elementary School – Art Vista | 2008-2010 |