About the Artist
I grew up in a rural town in Pennsylvania, where sculpture is not often found. In my undergraduate years at The Pennsylvania State University, my body of work focused around mental health, and the human experience of suffering from mental illness. Broadening the scope of my work in my graduate studies at Rochester Institute of Technology, I am now focusing on my history in construction in relationship to my childhood, and the materials found in my life at that time. My graduate thesis is exploring the materiality of everyday materials and their relationship to value and labor.
My works consist of a wide range of materials, but most common include: PVC, concrete, asphalt shingles, carpet, steel, various casted metals, clay, textiles, wood, and plater, alongside hot glue and other youthful craft materials.
Artist Statement
2023
Growing up with a construction background, building projects have a direct answer or solution. Historically, Jenna’s art has been driven by an anticipated outcome. Her current work is composed of 3-dimensional sculptures that have ties to both traditional construction materials and youthful craft materials. By using experimentation of various processes, Jenna Deal is exploring the idea of infinite imagination that childhood brings; the way that possibilities are endless and that no answer is wrong until taught otherwise. By putting these two juxtaposing material categories together in a body of work, Jenna is questioning the dynamics and relationships throughout everyday life.
Artist CV
Education
2022-now Master of Fine Art in Studio Art (candidate), Concentration in Sculpture, Rochester Institute of
Technology, Rochester, New York (expected May 2024)
2018-2022 Bachelor of Fine Art in Art, Concentration in Sculpture, The Pennsylvania State University, Schreyer
Honors College, University Park, Pennsylvania
Professional Experience
2023 Instructor of Record for Introduction to Sculpture, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
2023- now Student Organization Founder and President - Sculpture Club, Rochester Institute Of Technology,
Rochester, NY
2023 Teaching Assistant for Introduction to Sculpture, Taught by Christina Leung, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
2022-now Studio Technician and Monitor, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
2022 Teaching Assistant for Foundry: Metal Casting and Mold Making, Taught by Kelly Wilton, Rochester
Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
2022 Teaching Assistant for Foundry: Metal Casting and Mold Making, Taught by Cristin Millett, The
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
2020 College of Arts and Architecture Mentor, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
2020 Viral Imaginations: COVID-19 Gallery and Team Manager, The Pennsylvania State University, University
Park, PA
2019 Centered Earth Clay and Arts Studio Gallery Manager and Instructor, Muncy, PA
2018-2019 Ceramics Club President, The School of Visual Arts, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
2015 - 2022 JMDeal Construction: Maintenance and Managing, Deal College Rentals, Bloomsburg, PA
Awards and scholarships
2022 Student Marshall - The School of Visual Arts, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
2021 Brian Betzler Memorial Award for Exemplary Artistic Achievement, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
2018-2022 Provost’s Award, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
2018-2022 Dean’s List, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Exhibition History
2023 Art Amplifies Hope, Group Exhibition for the Willow Domestic Violence Center, Rochester, NY
2022 Public Display, Things We Take for Granted and other various works, 4-month installation, The Danville
Business Alliance, Danville, PA
2022 Insight, Honors Thesis Solo Exhibition, Patterson Gallery, The Pennsylvania State University, University
Park, PA
2022 A Shift Within, Patterson Gallery, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
2021 Black, White, and Gray, Patterson Gallery, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park,
PA
2021 Scholarship Award Exhibition, Zoller Gallery, The Pennsylvania State University, University
Park, PA
2020-2022 Viral Imaginations: COVID-19 Virtual Gallery Exhibition, The Pennsylvania State University,
University Park, PA
2020-2021 Things We Take For Granted, Riverside Laundromat Year-Long Outdoor Public Display, Danville, PA
2019 Donor Event for the School of Visual Arts, The House of the President, The Pennsylvania State
University, University Park, PA
2018 High School Art Competition, Haas Gallery at Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA
Workshops
2019 Peter’s Valley School of Craft, Clay Monoprinting Workshop with Czashka Ross, Layton, New Jersey
2019 Centered Earth Clay and Arts Studio, Ceramics workshop with Jen Allen, Muncy, Pennsylvania
2018 Bloomsburg University, 2 Stained Glass Classes, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
Bibliography
2022 Thought Art Magazine, 3-time featured artist in Issue No. 5
2021 “Shelter-in-Art”: A Creative Memorialization of the Pandemic, Unraveling the Anthropocene: Race, Environment, and Pandemic, Podcast, https://sites.psu.edu/liberalartscollective/unraveling-the-anthropocene-podcast/episode-17-shelter-in-art-a-creative-memorialization-of-the-pandemic/
2020 The Daily Item, “Local Artist Creates Sculpture to Promote Togetherness,”
https://www.dailyitem.com/the_danville_news/news/loca
-artist-creates-sculpture-to-promote-togetherness/article_3b2e6c50-cd1b-11ea-b3ad-0387c0fd5c63.html