COLORADO ARTIST AND MUSICIAN
COLOR SINGS TO ME
The arts have saturated Jessica’s life through music, painting and theater, each getting their focused time in accommodation with earning a living. Since moving to Colorado 1996, the beauty and light of the West inspired her to dedicate her attention primarily to painting, with more recent musical activity (recording and performing in retirement homes) giving some satisfaction in that area as well.
Prior to moving to Colorado, Jessica exhibited her paintings in Pittsburgh, PA, and then Washington DC where she also worked as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill before moving to New York City, when she made the (strangely logical at the time) switch to acting. After thirteen years as an actress, singer, jeweler and office temp in New York City and Los Angeles, it was time to get back to her art roots.
Ms. Wicken received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Utah (major in painting and drawing, minor in art history) and also studied art in San Miguel de Allende and Saltillo, Mexico, as well as the Art Students League in Denver, CO. Her work has been juried into highly selective shows, has received numerous awards, and is held in numerous private collections internationally and across the United States. Of note in Colorado, her work is included in the Inkfish Collection, the Denver Library’s, Blair Caldwell African American Research Center, and selected by Marriott Corporation’s “Art on the Road” tour of ten American cities as one of Colorado’s outstanding artists. Her painting “Daylight Dissolving” was recently chosen by the Art in Embassies program to hang in the American Embassy in Athens, Greece, from 2011 through 2012.
She is the illustrator of two children’s books: “Can I Kayak Daddy?” by Joyce Autrey, and “You Are Not Alone” by Dorothy Davis. Other art related jobs have been as a publicity artist for cabaret and theater productions and creating holiday-themed paintings for a card company.
“In a world of more and more restrictions, my theme song would be “Don’t Fence Me In.” Figurative, Landscape, Still Life genres all appeal to me as subject matter, with the delight of color, both subtle and bold, being the most distinctive aspect of my work. My paintings are closest in style to the Impressionists.”
Married to author Pat Krohn (author of The Krohnicles: Life of a Beatnik Boy)
Resume
Juried Shows and Exhibitions Sample List
2019 – “The 144”, PACE Center for the Arts, Parker, CO
2018 – “Own and Original, Littleton Museum, Littleton, CO
2017 – Gateway to the Rockies, Aurora History Museum, Aurora, CO
2017 Spectacular Spooks, Impasto Gallery, Longmont, CO
2014 “Celebrating the Dome” Denver, Co. The Capitol
2012 Gateway to the Rockies Exhibition, Aurora History Museum, Award, – First Place
2010-2013 American Embassy, Athens Greece (Selected by the U.S. Art in Embassies)
2011 American Art Awards, 2 Awards, Animal and Asian categories, international competition
2008 and 2010 Denver Plein Air Arts Festival, Denver Public Library
2009 Gateway to the Rockies Exhibition, Aurora History Museum – Award
2007 “Invited Artists”, and “Bierstadt Collection” RL Foster Gallery, Denver, CO
2004 CWS State Watermedia Exhibition, Denver History Museum – Award
Stephen Quiller Juror, Denver, CO
2000 CWS State Watermedia Exhibition, Denver History Museum – Polly Hammett Juror
Color and Light Gallery, Denver, CO “Here and Now” Award
Colorado Visions – Westminster Community Artist Series, Juror: Carl Dalio, Westminster, CO
National Miniature Show – Aurora History Museum, Colorado
Portraits for Alice Neel – selected by Alice Neel, Washington Women’s Art Center, Washington, DC
Thirty-two Pieces of Paper – Washington Women’s Art Center, Carol Nordgren, Juror
Collections and Publications: Denver Library, Blair Caldwell African American Research Library.
Marriott Corporation’s “Springhill Suites: Art on the Road” one of two of Denver’s featured artists, 2012. Book of Lists 2015-2016 Chosen by Denver Business Journal as one of the top five Colorado Artists. Articles: The Journal Weekender and The Shepherdstown Observer, (West Virginia), Summit Daily News (Colorado); American Art Collector magazine.
Galleries and Exhibitions – Sample
Creative Framing Art Gallery, Louisville, CO – Present
The Framed Image Gallery, Denver, Co Present
Art Images Willoubghy Gallery, Denver, CO (closed)
7801 Evergreen Home Furnishings, Evergreen, CO Present
Great Western Art Gallery, Denver, CO – 2009-2014 (closed)
Russian Ark International Gallery, Denver (co-owner, 2006-2009 Closed)
Entler Hotel Gallery –W. Virginia (during artist-in-residency at Shepherdstown Old Grist Mill 2004)
Education and Current Art Associations
Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Utah
Art Students League of Denver, American Watercolor Society
Studies in Mexico in Saltillo and San Miguel de Allende
Telephone: 303-653-2650 Website: www.JessicaWickenart.com [email protected]
Employment
Book Illustrator “Can I Kayak Daddy” By Joyce Autrey and “You Are Not Alone” by Dorothy Davis
Greeting cards for Latitude North Card Co.; Freelance illustrator – Ship and Shore Fashions in NYC
