Photo by Morgan Barrie
Jessica Tenbusch (b. 1984) is an artist, illustrator, and curator based in Ypsilanti Michigan. Her work is inspired by the plants and animals that live near and with humans and the suburban landscape. She explores the complex relationships between these species and between them and humans as well as how those relationships shape her as a human animal. Her work is an observation on our role as ecosystem builders and destroyers. These works are fragments of our daily environment; the nature embedded in our homes and neighborhoods. In her childhood, she shared her home with a multitude of other animals and hundreds of houseplants. Outside was always inside. She currently creates works on paper, but also works interdisciplinarily creating sculpture and jewelry.
Jessica received her MFA from Eastern Michigan University where she concentrated in metalsmithing and drawing. She has exhibited in solo and group shows nationally including at River House Arts (OH), Momentum Gallery (NC), and Hatch Arts (MI). Her work has been featured in print by Create! Magazine and BOOOOOOOM, and online by BOOOOOOOM, Create! Magazine, Rustbelt Arts, and The Jealous Curator. Illustration clients include the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability and the band Maggie Belle. She has curated shows at River House Arts (OH), Ann Arbor Arts Center (MI), and Hatch Arts (MI). Jessica is the former owner/operator of Ypsi Alloy Studios, a 3D arts studio she co-owned with two other local artists.
CV
Selected Exhibitions| 2024 |
Collectanea - Buckham Gallery, Flint MI (3-Artist Show)
Under Every Grief and Pine: Perennial Matter - River House Arts, Toledo OH (3-Artist Show) Spring Shadows - 813 Microgallery, Ann Arbor MI (upcoming solo) |
| 2023 |
Eye of the Storm - Hatch Art, Hamtramck MI
Memory Hive - WOW x WOW, Scotland UK Small Works | Big Impact - Momentum Gallery, Asheville NC |
| 2022 |
Cornucopia - WOW x WOW, Scotland UK
Small Works | Big Impact - Momentum Gallery, Asheville NC |
| 2021 |
Tangled Gardens Between Us - River House Arts, Toledo OH (solo)
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| 2020 |
"In Your Own Words" Create! Magazine
National Juried Exhibition - Jackson Dinsdale Art Center, Hastings NE
Winter Online Exhibition - PxP Contemporary |
| 2019 |
You Can't Touch A Ghost - Galleri 2987, Detroit MI
Nomadic Objects - Oloman Next Door, Hamtramck MI Agency II - River House Arts, Toledo OH 97th Annual All Media Exhibition - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor MI Kindred - Barickuda Gallery, Ann Arbor MI |
| 2018 |
Thinking With Animals - River House Arts, Toledo OH
Peaceable Kingdom - Higher Art Gallery, Traverse City MI Written Into Rock - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor MI The Infinite Undoing - Galleri 2987, Detroit MI Sanctuary - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor MI Alumni-18: Sculpture - Ford Gallery, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti MI |
| 2017 |
Emergent Effect - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor MI
Sacred Spaces - Higher Art Gallery, Traverse City MI Gathering: A Venison Magazine Retrospective - Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Albany CA |
| 2016 |
Alter+Combine - (SCENE) Metrospace, Lansing MI
Borders - Walter Terhune Gallery, Owens Community Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Perrysberg OH Never Not Broken - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor MI Re: Formation, dual-site exhibition - Toledo OH & Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor MI Echoes - 22 North Gallery, Ypsilanti MI |
| 2015 |
CLOSER - (SCENE) Metrospace, Lansing MI
Lacuna: Life Through Death - Chin-Azzaro Gallery, Ypsilanti MI (solo) Potato, Potahto: Sides of Midwestern Life - 22 North Gallery, Ypsilanti MI Forage: A Collection of Honey Bee Inspired Art - 22 North Gallery, Ypsilanti MI |
| 2014 | Die/Grow Grow/Die Thesis Show - Ford Gallery, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti MI Master Pieces - Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati OH |
Publications and Media
| 2022 | “Quiet” book, BOOOOOOOM, Vancouver BC, Canada
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| 2021 | “Tangled Gardens Between Us” review, David Dupont, BG Independent News, July 24, 2021 [link]
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| 2020 | "In Your Own Words" Review, Create! Magazine Issue 19 Artist Feature, Candyfloss Magazine, March 08 2020 Artist Feature, BOOOOOOOM, April 02 2020 [link] Artist Feature, Candyfloss Magazine Issue 2 |
| 2019 | Artist Feature, Create! Magazine Issue 14, International Women's Issue 2019 Artist Feature, The Jealous Curator, May 23 2019 [link] |
| 2018 | "Thinking with Animals," Rustbelt Arts [link]
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| 2016 | Interview, Venison Quarterly, Summer 2016 Issue [link] Alter+Combine Group Show Catalog, (SCENE) Metrospace, Lansing MI |
| 2015 | CLOSER Group Show Catalog, (SCENE) Metrospace, Lansing MI
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| 2014 |
MANIFEST Gallery, Season 10 Manifest Exhibition Annual Catalog
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Curation and Professional Activities
| 2023 | Co-curator: Eye of the Storm - Hatch Art, Hamtramck, MI, Co-curated with Paloma Núñez-Regueiro
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| 2015 - 2022 | Owner/Operator: Ypsi Alloy Studios - Ypsilanti MI
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| 2018 | Co-curator: Thinking With Animals - River House Arts, Toledo OH, Co-curated with Morgan Barrie Curator: Sanctuary - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor MI Juror: Forage VI - 22 North Gallery, Ypsilanti MI Coordinator: Ypsi Alloy Studios Pop Up - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor MI |
| 2017 |
Curator: Emergent Effect - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor MI Juror: Forage V - 22 North Gallery, Ypsilanti MI Co-curator/Juror: Chimera - 22 North Gallery, Ypsilanti MI, Co-curated with Morgan Barrie Coordinator: Ypsi Alloy Studios Holiday Market - Ypsi Alloy Studios, Ypsilanti MI |
| 2016 | Curator: Echoes - 22 North Gallery, Ypsilanti MI Juror: Forage IV - 22 North Gallery, Ypsilanti MI |