My work reflects my surroundings in Oakland, a city in constant flux of abandonment, renewal, construction and destruction. I notice graffiti claiming dilapidated structures, construction sites transforming areas, and nature reclaiming the earth. I fuse these observations into images of representation with a twist. I offer both positive and unlikely scenes; the polarization or tropical warming that may occur as we continue to damage our planet. I am signaling a time for awareness, renewal and resurrection in our society.
Selected Exhibitions:
2024:
Home, The Drawing Room, San Francisco, Jan – Feb
2023:
Solstice Show, Mercury 20 Gallery, Dec.
DeYoung Open, DeYoung Museum, San Francisco Sept.2023 – Jan 2024
Nature’s Reckoning, Mercury 20 Gallery, solo show Sept – Oct
2022:
Solstice Show, Mercury 20 Gallery, Dec. 22 – Jan 23
Print Editions Show, Rock, Paper Scissors, Dec
Kala Artists Annual, Kala Printmaking Institute, Oct – Nov
Migration Altered, Mercury 20 Gallery, solo show May
2021:
15th Anniversary Show, Mercury 20 Gallery, Dec
One Little Art Sale, DeYoung TA instagram show, Nov- Dec
Rising out of Ruins, Mercury 20 Gallery, solo show April
2020:
2020 Re:Vision, Mercury 20 group show, Dec.
One Little Art Sale, DeYoung TA instagram show, Nov- Dec
DeYoung Open Exhibition, San Francisco, Oct – Dec
666 Small Works Ceramic Exhibition, applied contemporary, Aug- Sept.
Care Package, an online art show, MercuryTwenty.com April- May
Truth or Dare, Mercury 20 group show, Dec. 19- Jan 20
2019:
Frog Bog, Mercury 20 Gallery, solo show Oct- Nov.
Home Is, Friends Academy, Long Island, New York Oct- Nov.
Bay Area Prints!, The Compound Gallery, June- Aug
Kala Artists’ Annual, Kala Art Institute, Jan- March
Self Portraits in the Age of Selfies, Mercury 20 Gallery, group show, January
2018:
Generations Engage, City Hall + Frank Ogawa Plaza, May
The Color Red, JAS, Jingletown Art Studios February
Melting Point, Mercury 20 Gallery Collaborative Show, January
2017:
Dwelling, Mercury 20 Gallery, Solo Show Sept-Oct.
TedXOakland, featured artist Oct.
20/20 Vision, Mercury 20 Gallery Dec.
JAS, Jingletown Art Studios, Dec.
2016:
Urban Scapes, Harrington Fine Arts Gallery Oct.-Nov.
Garage Sale, Mercury 20 Gallery, Solo Show Sept.-Oct.
Crowded by Beauty, McGuire Real Estate June- October
Ale Industries, Featured Artist June
Mercury 20 at Ten, Mercury 20 Group Show Jan-Feb
2015:
Transformation, Solo Show, Mercury 20 Gallery Sept. – Oct.
A Common Ground, collaboration w/ Alison McLennan February-March
Friends with Karma, Pro Arts Gallery Jan-Feb.
2014:
Collective Stories, Mercury 20 Gallery Dec.
Industrial Resolution, Solo Show, Mercury 20 Gallery Aug.-Sept.
Martha’s Vineyard Family Planning Exhibition, W.Tisbury, MA May
Fresh Works, Harrington Gallery, Pleasanton, Curator’s Choice Award, April-June
Convergence, collaboration w/ Kaya Fortune, Mercury 20, January/February
2013:
Trespass, Solo Show, Mercury 20 Gallery. Sept. – Nov.
The Chazen Gallery, Providence, RI October/ November
Café 817, Featured Artist, Oakland, July/ August
Urban Wine Cellars, Oakland, July
Farley’s Café, Featured Artist, Oakland, March
Histoire Noir, Mercury 20 Gallery January/ February
Transport, Pro Arts Gallery, Exhibition Coordinator January/February
2012:
Latham Square, Pro Arts Guest Artist, March – Sep
Glimmer in the Grit, Solo Show, Mercury 20 Gallery. September
Art Pad, Phoenix Hotel, San Francisco May
From here to There, Mercury 20 Gallery, May/ June
2011:
Pro Arts Juried Annual Nov/ Dec
Outdoors, Mercury 20 Gallery November
City Strokes, Solo Show, Mercury 20 Gallery. September
True Paint, Mercury 20 Gallery, February
2010:
Mercury Multiples, Mercury 20 Gallery, December
Funk-A-Glyphs, Mua Restaurant, Oakland, CA November
Cycles of the City, Solo Show, Mercury 20 Gallery, August
Elements of Hip Hop, African American Culture Complex, San Francisco, July
Mercury Rising, Mercury 20 Gallery, Oakland July
Small Works, Mercury 20 Gallery, Oakland June
Don’t Look Back, Mercury 20 Gallery, Oakland February
Happiness, Juried Annual 2010, Pro Arts Gallery, Dec – Jan
2009:
Elemental, Mercury 20 Gallery, Dec-Jan
Foursite, A Group Show, Mercury 20, Oakland. CA August
Irreplaceable Places, 2nd Place, Santa Cruz Art League May – June
Intimate Observer, Mercury 20 Gallery, Oakland, CA May
Juried Annual 2009, Pro Arts Gallery, Oakland, CA February
2008:
California History Walk, Oakland Art Gallery September
Cuentas de Mexico, Mercury 20 Gallery, Oakland, CA June
Jingletown Junction, Curator, Pro Arts Gallery, Oakland, March – April
2007:
Bort Center Café, Solo Show, Metro Center Oakland, CA May – August
Juried Annual 2007, Pro Arts Gallery, Oakland, CA February
Art Related Trainings:
Cultural Strategist in Government for Public Art Workshop, City of Oakland, 2023:
A six month workshop guiding artists ion how to apply and complete public art projects
for the city and for private companies. The workshop culminates ion admission to the
City of Oakland Artists’ Pool.
Public Art Academy, Northern CA, 2009 -10: A course of study guiding artists from
studio work into the realm of public art. The course included visits to the public art
commissions of San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Cruz and Oakland.
Community and Public Art Projects:
Emeryville Perspectives 2023: Working with Chandra Cerito Consultants, Harvest
Corporation, the City of Emeryville, and AHS Custom Fabricators, I designed 3 sections
of a fence that surrounds a storage yard. The 12 foot tall, 150 feet length depicts a
continuous scene of the Emeryville Shoreline, with views looking West, North and East
towards the Marina and the city.
Storm Drain Mural Project 2018-2020: Funded by the Fruitvale Resiliency Grant and
Keep Oakland Beautiful. Designed and painted 4 murals on storm drains in Jingletown in
collaboration with Lazear School, local families, MLK Day volunteers and members of
the senior community Phoenix Commons.
Derby Ave Screening 2017: Working with Madison Park, McLennan partnered with
DEKA Fabrications in Jingletown for the project. The 40’ steel laser cut, visual screening
depicts birds on electric wires; uniting the urban and natural environments and including
details of the industrial history of the neighborhood in the skyline.
JMAC: Jill McLennan Arts and Community: JMAC is a licensed Oakland small
business that organizes community art projects and teaches art to youth and adults.
JABC: Jingletown Arts, Business+Community: Neighborhood organization cofounder,
organizes community events, projects, clean-ups and open studios.
Beautify Peterson St. Art Wall and Garden Project, 2009-2012: JABC with McLennan
with Cynthia Elliot organized the project, received fiscal sponsorship form Pro Arts
Gallery, monetary support from the City of Oakland District 5, Neighborhood
Beautification Grant. McLennan directed 15 artists in completing murals and mosaics
along the 200’ wall on Peterson St. The project continues with a native plant garden
partnership with the Friends of Sausal Creek. McLennan painted one mural herself and
led a murals project with neighborhood youth from Arise Academy.
City of Oakland Cultural Funding Grant Recipient 2011/12: With the Oakland Public
Arts Commission and Arise High School, McLennan led high school students in
designing and painting a mural for the Peterson St. Art Wall. The mural depicts Sausal
Creek flowing into the Fruitvale Ave neighborhood where the students go to school.
Art & Soul Cultural Mural Project, 2012: McLennan designed and led the public in
painting a mural of the Arts and Cultures of Oakland at the Art & Soul Festival. This
project was organized by Pro Arts Gallery and funded through the City of Oakland.
Art Exhibitions and Memberships:
Mercury 20 Gallery 2007 – Present: Mercury 20 Gallery is a collective artist run
business in downtown Oakland of 20 artists who share duties and responsibilities and
rotate exhibitions throughout the year. McLennan is a founding member, exhibiting her
work at the gallery 2-3 times a year with solo shows once a year.
Jingletown Junction Exhibition 2008, Pro Arts Gallery, Curated by McLennan, through
a Curators Choice award. An exhibition of neighborhood artists depicting their own
perspective of the story of Jingletown as a community.
Pro Arts Gallery: Guest Artist for Solo Show at Latham Square Building for 6 months,
2012. Juried Annual, 2011, 2010, 2009. Curators Choice Proposal, JABC exhibit.
Teaching Related Trainings:
Alameda County Integrated Learning Summer Institute 2012-16 and 2019:
Inventing Our Future: Three days of dynamic speakers, mini courses and collaboration
between art, science and core teachers and administrators of education. TFU, SHOM,
VTS and Common Core strategies for arts integration
Women’s Small Business Initiative, 2013:
Harvard Project Zero, Teaching for Understanding, 2007: SHOM technique of
assessment and the Teaching for Understanding.
Spanish Language Development: Spanish 1: College of Alameda Fall 2006, Spanish
2: Laney College, Spring 2007, Spanish Immersion Program: Academia Hispano
Americana, San Miguel de Allende, MX, Summer 2007, Spanish Literature Course:
Merritt College Spring 2008.
Education:
The School of the Art Institute .
Chicago, IL 9/97-01/00 M.A. Jan. 2000
Hampshire College 9/92-5/96, Amherst, MA B.A. May 1996
Vermont Studio Center, Residency, Johnston, VT May, 1995
Affiliations:
Alameda County Arts Leadership Awardee 2013
ProArts Gallery – Member 2003-2016
Jingletown Arts and Business Community, Co- Founder 2006-Present
Mercury 20 Gallery – Founding Member 2008-Present
MOCHA – Museum of Children’s Art – Teaching Artist 2004-Present
Jill McLennan Arts and Community, sole proprietor 2012-Present
DeYoung Museum – Teaching Artist 2012-Present
Jingletown Art Studios – Member 2020-Present
Artist Registries:
Cultural Strategist in Government for Public Art Workshop, Oakland, 2023
Alameda County Artists Registry 2011, 2017
BayVan – Bay Area Visual Arts Network 2009-2012
Street SmARTS Pool of Artists: San Francisco Art Commission 2010
Public Art Academy: Northern CA 2009-2010
Public Art Projects:
Emeryville Perspectives, 6475 Christie Ave, Emeryville, Harvest Corp. 2023
Jingletown Birds, 401 Derby Ave, Madison Park Building Corp. 2017
Open Studios:
Jingletown Holiday Art Walk December 2006-23
East Bay Open Studios, Oakland, CA June 2003-2024
Exhibitions
