About
Jessica Merchant is a multidisciplinary artist living in Shannon, IL. A product of academia, intergenerational learning, and the rural Midwest, she is well-practiced in drawing, painting, printmaking, textiles, bookbinding, and sculpture. Her approach combines free play and methodical processes to manipulate familiar and perishable materials, creating images and objects that demonstrate the flexibility, mutability, and expressive potential of the ordinary. She has exhibited in the United States, internationally, and has been awarded residencies at Vermont Studio Center, Penland School of Craft, and Tallgrass Artist Residency. A graduate of UW-Madison with an MFA in printmaking and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Rockford University, Jessica currently teaches elementary art.
CV
Education
2024 Master of Arts in Teaching, Rockford University, Rockford, IL
2019 Certificate in Entrepreneurship, SBDC at UW-Madison, Madison, WI
2017 MFA in Printmaking, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
2009 BFA in Studio Art, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
Professional Experience in the Arts
2021-present Elementary Art Teacher, Eastland Elementary School, Shannon, IL
2019 Book Arts Workshop Instructor, Vox Populi Print Collective at Abel Contemporary Gallery, Stoughton, WI
2016-2017 Project Assistant, Tandem Press
Studio Assistant, William Weege, Off Jones Road Press
Summer 2016 Screen Printing Instructor, PEOPLE Program, UW-Madison
2015-2016 Printmaking Project Assistant, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2013-15 Studio Assistant, Tandem Press
2011-2012 Arts and Crafts Program Assistant, Dupage County Convalescent Center
Organizations
2017-present Vox Populi Print Collective
2014-present Southern Graphics Council International
2014-2017 Fresh Hot Press Print Club
2005-2009 Augustana Artisans
Grants/Awards
2019 Tallgrass Artist Residency, Matfield Green, KS
Harvester Arts Artist in Residence, Wichita, KS
2018 Penland School of Craft Summer Session Assistant, Bakersville, NC
Penland School of Craft Winter Residency, Bakersville, NC
2017 Meditation Room Artwork Commission, UW-Madison Police Department
Vermont Studio Center Residency, Johnson, VT
Professional Development Grant, UW-Madison Graduate School, Madison, WI
2016 Conference Presentation Funds Grant, UW-Madison Graduate School, Madison, WI
2014 William J. Wartmann Graduate Art Printing Scholarship, Madison, WI
2009 Alpha Vaky Wingard Art Award for Excellence in the Senior Studio Art Exhibition, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
Solo Exhibitions
2023 Member Showcase, The Next Picture Show, Dixon, IL
2017 nest, Commonwealth Gallery, Madison, WI
2016 Succession, Art Lofts Gallery, Madison, WI
Portrait, 5th@21 Gallery, Madison, WI
Group Exhibitions
2024 Vox Pop Exhibition, Gallery Nina, Milwaukee, WI
2020 Last Best Print Fest, Zootown Arts Community Center, Missoula, MT
2019 Tallgrass Group Show, The Schoolhouse, Matfield Green, KS
Make A Good Impression, Abel Contemporary Gallery, Stoughton, WI
Miniature Masterpieces, Freeport Art Museum, Freeport, IL
Devil’s Dictionary, Gallery 224, Port Washington, WI
Superfine! Art Fair, Los Angeles, CA
2018 Superfine! Art Fair, Washington, D.C.
RESPONSE, UW-Manitowoc Gallery, Manitowoc, WI
Black and White and Re(a)d All Over, Galerie Critical Kunst, Berlin, Germany
RESPONSE, Toolbox Gallery, Berlin, Germany
SCOPE Art Fair, Basel, Switzerland
Hinternational Paper, Real Tinsel, Milwaukee, WI
Black and White and Re(a)d All Over, Galleria Huuto, Helsinki, Finland
2017 RESPONSE, ArtHelix Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2016 The Jettisoned Object, Gallery 7, Madison, WI
Capitol Lakes Annual MFA Show, Capitol Lakes Retirement Community, Madison, WI
INKlings, Gallery 7, Madison, WI
Can You Taste It? Art Lofts Gallery, Madison, WI
Criminal, Overture Center, Madison, WI
Criminal, OCAC, Portland, OR
2015 Status Report, Gallery 7, Madison, WI
Capitol Lakes Annual MFA Show, Capitol Lakes Retirement Community, Madison, WI
The Gang’s All Here, Art Lofts Gallery, Madison, WI
Awagami International Miniature Print Exhibition, Yoshinogawa, Japan
Graphics MFA Candidate Exhibition, Gallery 7, Madison, WI
...and..., Gelsy Verna Gallery, Madison, WI
Overlap, Commonwealth Gallery, Madison, WI
Atwood Atelier, Yahara River Gallery, Madison, WI
The Broken Family Room, Gallery 7, Madison, WI
Winnebago Studios Portrait Showcase, Artist & Craftsman, Madison, WI
Separate Checks, Art Lofts Gallery, Madison, WI
2014 Aspects of Self, Commonwealth Gallery, Madison, WI
2010 Fall Show, DuPage Art League School and Gallery, Wheaton, IL
2009 Senior Studio Art Exhibition, Centennial Hall, Rock Island, IL