Jill McLennan – harm_less
October 26 – November 28, 2026
Artists’ Opening Reception: Saturday, October 24, 3 – 5 pm
Oakland Art Murmur / First Friday: November 6, 5 – 9 pm
Artist Talks: Saturday, November 7, 3 – 5 pm
Jill McLennan’s work gives voice to the harmless, reflecting on the federal government’s decision to rescind the definition of harm (2026) as it applies to the protection of animals and their habitats, listed under the Endangered Species Act (1975). In her art, she depicts animals adapting, inventing new ways to thrive amidst human impact. Using sumi ink, a brush, and mulberry paper, she paints mammals, birds, amphibians, plants, trees, and rivers. Then, tearing the paper, she applies these images to wood panels. Adding watercolor and handmade paper, she creates a transformation from reality to wonder. McLennan states, “The animals are here alongside us, they have always been here, and it is our duty to ensure that they remain, that their habitat is here on earth for generations to come. May my art be a message to harm less, a cry to the present and a hope for the future.”
Jill McLennan
Jill McLennan creates paintings, collages and prints inspired by her surroundings and the stories that she collects. She has been a member of Mercury 20 Gallery since 2007. She is an active member of her neighborhood, Jingletown Arts, Business + Community (JABC), organizing Open Studios as well as beautification projects. She recently printed a series of linoleum blocks with poems, telling stories of migration and climate change, through a residency at the Kala Art Institute in Berkeley, CA. McLennan has completed two public art projects: Jingletown Birds at 401 Derby and Emeryville Perspectives at 65th and Christie Streets. Both are cut steel fences depicting the local shoreline with birds, designed by McLennan and executed by local metal fabricators. Her work was accepted to the deYoung Open in 2020 and 2023. As an artist and teacher, she is deeply invested in protecting her environment, inspiring the youth, and spreading hope and joy into the world.