Jen Wright

Artist

Painting as research by exploration.  Pareidolia and marginalia; movement, colour, mark making, and mapping, figures and entities populate the work.  

I like not knowing what I’ll find.  I follow my curiosity, working from notes, sketches, and drawings but once I start to paint I work in dialogue with the painting.

Bio

A painter and visual artist with a background in social work, Jen Wright seeks to express her ideals, principles, and inner world primarily through the medium of oil paint and an interest in community and collaborative art making. Based in Maritime Canada, Jen graduated from St. Thomas University in Fredericton with a degree in Social Work and subsequently a Bachelor Degree of Fine Art in Drawing & Painting from OCAD University in Toronto. 

Jen has exhibited works in OCAD U’s GradEx 108, the First Self: Investigating Cultural Appropriation exhibition, and the 3V Collective Gallery. In times past, she has also worked as a Willing Worker on Organic Farms, an English as a Second Language Teacher in South Korea, and Youth Employment Mentor.  

Ciriculum Vitae

Exhibitor 

GradEx 108
OCAD University 2023

First Self: Investigating Cultural Appropriation
OCAD University 2020 

Drawing at First Sight
OCAD University 2017 

Open House: Look Inside
OCAD University 2017 

Grand Opening
The 3 V Collective Gallery 2014 

Training & Workshops 

Reiki Traditional Healing Level II
Transense Healing Arts 2021 

Encaustic
OCAD University Continuing Studies 2016 

Portrait Painting
Toronto School of Art 2015 

Indigenous Cultural Competency Training
Native Canadian Centre of Toronto 2017 

Theatre of the Oppressed
OISE Workshop 2017 

How to Host a Great Workshop
OISE Workshop 2017 

Compassion Fatigue
Toronto Hostels Training Centre 2016 

Professional & Volunteer 

Pandemic Greeting Cards Project
Centre for Immigrant & Community Services 2020

Fine Art & Social Work

Professional & Volunteer (Continued)

Pandemic Letter Writing Project For Seniors
Big Brothers & Big Sisters Canada 2020 

Youth Mentor & Shop Manager
The Lansdowne Cone 2016   

Fruit Gleaner
Not Far From The Tree 2015-2016 

Community Art And Garden Facilitator
Greenest City 2015 

Farm Hand
Willing Workers on Organic Farms 2009 

Social Program Officer
B.C. Ministry of Child & Family Development 2008 

English as a Second Language Teacher
South Korea 2005-2006 

Youth Care Worker
Fredericton Residential Youth Services 2003-2004 

Counsellor/Registered Social Worker
Ridgewood Addiction Services 2002 

Education 

Bachelor of Fine Art in Drawing & Painting
OCAD University 2023 

Graduate Studies in Social Work
University of Northern British Columbia 2011-2015 

Bachelor of Social Work
Saint Thomas University 2001 

Bachelor of Arts
Saint Thomas University 2000  

Contact

jenwright123@hotmail.com

Using Format