Jenny Olsen
MFA ’22 Fine Arts 2D
I am a painter, working primarily in oil. While my earlier work was mostly abstract, the human figure now takes center stage. These figures ground my work, and also act as a way of transferring my own physical presence onto the canvas. The painting, Kami Suki (Combing Hair), featured in this show, is inspired by a woodblock print from the Japanese Edo period (1603-1868). It is my contemporary interpretation of a timeless scene: a woman grooming herself. The original woodblock print belongs to the genre of “Bijin-ga”, or “pictures of beautiful women”. Our perception of beauty has evolved over time, and I drew inspiration from the face of a friend to reflect that shift. Through this piece, I explore the duality of time and place – an enduring interest of mine – while allowing a quiet reflection of my Japanese heritage to emerge.
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Jenny Olsen (MFA’22) is a Boston based visual artist. She is a recipient of the Saint Botolph Club Foundation Emerging Artist award and grant in 2022, Mass MoCA Fellowship in 2022, and the “Best in Show” winner of CAA’s National Prize Show in 2015. Jenny has shown her work in many solo and group exhibitions: most recent shows are solo at Saint Botolph Club, 2025 and a group show at LaiSun Keane Gallery, 2025.
