About the Artist

"This woman knows how colors work -- to such an extent you'll suspect that color itself, the entire goddamn spectrum of visible light, is her personal lackey. Some painters practice and study relentlessly, getting better and better and better; Balkan does that, to near perfection; and now she's also trying new gambits of expression, breaking fresh graphic ground, achieving a distinctly rewarding representational glory," Austin Chronicle, November 12, 2021.

Jennifer grew up in New Jersey and began to draw at a very young age. She studied neuroscience at Lehigh University and considered pursuing a path in psychology. After living in Boulder and Seattle, she moved to Austin. She attained her Ph.D. from UT Austin in Sociology in 2001 after conducting anthropological fieldwork in Mexico. Although her experience in Mexico was rich, Jennifer longed for artistic creativity. In August of 2001, Jennifer spent a month in Spain, France, and Italy where she saw masterworks that would become her inspiration. Upon returning, she began studying painting and drawing from observation, taking classes at Laguna Gloria Art School and the Austin Fine Arts School leading to further study at the Art Students League in Denver and through various painting workshops. She's been teaching figure and portrait painting in oils to private groups of students since 2006. In 2018, she cofounded Atelier Dojo, a realist art academy in Austin, Texas; and in 2021, she applied her training to study classical academic methods at Dojo Academy. In 2023, she became the Director of Dojo Academy. Her work has been exhibited across the United States and in Europe and has been featured in a number of national and international art publications. Her portraits have received awards by the Portrait Society of America; she was awarded “Best Visual Artist” by the Austin Chronicle’s Readers’ Poll and nominated by the Austin Critics Table for Austin’s Best Visual Artist and has had her work juried into "New American Paintings." She has had eleven solo shows in the U.S. including a solo museum exhibition and a solo exhibition in Ireland; three two-person exhibitions; and been included in numerous group shows. When not painting, she is adventuring through life with her son Karlo and husband Jeff either on bicycle or unicycle.

resume

education

2021-22 Dojo Academy, Austin, TX

2005 Art Student League of Denver, Colorado
2003 Austin Fine Arts School, Austin, TX
2002 Laguna Gloria Art School, Austin, TX
2001 University of Texas at Austin, Ph.D. in sociology
1992 Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, B.A. in behavioral neuroscience

selected exhibitions

2024

• September, Main Gallery, Smithville, Texas: "Thoughts in Between" solo exhibition

• April, Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, Wisconsin: "Thoughts in Between" solo exhibition

2023

• February, Soco Modern, Austin, Texas, pieces in “Pan-demon-ium” solo exhibition

• April-June, Museo Europe del Arte, Barcelona, Spain: “Mimesis” invitational group exhibition
2021

• July, AnArte Gallery, San Antonio, Texas: “Pan-demon-ium” solo exhibition2020

• September, Era Contemporary, Pennsylvania: “The New Pre-Raphaelites” group exhibition

• October, Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art: “Painting the Figure Now III” group exhibition

2019

July, Chimera Gallery, Mullingar, Ireland: "The Human Condition" solo exhibition

2018

February, Dougherty Art Center, Austin, Texas, "Radical Realism" group exhibition
May, Submerge Gallery, Austin, Texas, group exhibition
July, Maxwell Alexander Gallery, Los Angeles, California, curated by Joshua Rose into "Painting Now"
November, AnArte Gallery, San Antonio, Texas, curated by Steven Daluz into "The Human Condition"

2017

October, J. Wayne Stark Galleries, Texas A&M, curated into “Women Painting Women: In Earnest”
October, Lore Degenstein Gallery, PA, juried into Ninth Annual Figurative Painting Competition and Exhibition
August, Chimera Gallery, Ireland, summer group exhibition
August, Zhou B. Center, Chicago, juried into “Woman as Warrior” exhibition curated by Sergio Gomez and PoetsArtists Magazine
August, Customs House Museum in Clarksville, Tennessee, curated into “Women Painting Women: In Earnest”
March, Affordable Art Fair in NYC, exhibited with Galerie Virginie Barrou Planquart of Paris

2016

September, Davis Gallery, Austin, TX: Painters Painting Painters exhibit
June, Principle Gallery, Charleston, SC: Five-woman show at the Vendue Inn
May, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO: invited into Contemporary Configuration
April, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO: invited into Nexus
March, Art Room.Space Gallery, Fort Worth, TX: group exhibition

2015

October, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO: Urban exhibit
September, Austin, TX: invited into Vessel, a 2D and 3D exhibit curated by Brian David Johnson
August , Abend Gallery, Denver CO: invited into Edge of Realism exhibit
August, Gallery 1261, Denver, CO: invited to participate in Unfurl, exhibit curated by Mia Bergeron
August, Gallery 1261, Denver, CO: invited to participate in A Friendly Challenge, by Kevin Weckbach
June, Georgetown Art Center, TX: invited into first regional Women Painting Women show organized by Felice House
February, Arts Center of the Ozarks, AK: featured in Vox Femina
February, Sirona Fine Art, FL: Juried into Poets/Artists’ “The Artist’s Gaze: Seeing Women in the Twenty-first Century”

2014

September, Principle Gallery, Charleston, SC: Juried into 5th Annual Women Paint Women Show
September, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA: invited into the Pay It Forward Show
March, Georgetown Art Center, Texas: "Tomfoolery: Humor in Art" group exhibition
March, UP Collective, Austin, TX: "Nude Show" juried exhibition

2013

November, East Austin Studio Tour, Austin, TX
September, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA: Women Painting Women exhibition
May, Eleanor Ettinger Gallery, New York: two-person exhibition
January, Elliot Fouts Gallery, Sacramento, CA: “About Face” self-portrait group exhibition

2012

November, East Austin Studio Tour, Austin, TX
October, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE: juried art auction
August, Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, TX: “100 Degrees” group show
July, Bennington Center for the Arts, Vermont: Artists for the New Century exhibition
June, Eleanor Ettinger Gallery, New York: self-portrait exhibition
March, Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, TX: solo exhibition

2011

November, East Austin Studio Tour, Austin, TX
October, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE: juried art auction
September, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA: Affordable Art Show
July, Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, TX: “Rivers” group show

2010

December, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA: group show
November, East Austin Studio Tour, Austin, TX
November, Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC: juried show “Women Painting Women”
October, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE: juried art auction
September, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA: Drawing exhibit
August, Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, TX: Anniversary group show
March, Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, TX: solo exhibition

2009

November, East Austin Studio Tour, Austin, TX
October, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA: Artists’ Choice Show
October, Bass Concert Music Hall, Austin, TX: solo show
September, Austin, TX: Austin Visual Arts Association: juried exhibition
July, Showings Fine Art Gallery, Denver, CO: curated Women Artists’ Show
January, Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, TX: “A Grand Affair” group show

2008

December, Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, TX: group show
November, East Austin Studio Tour, Austin, TX
October, Austin Visual Arts Association, Austin, TX: juried life drawing show
October, USArtist’s Show, Philadelphia, PA: invited by the Principle Gallery
May, Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, TX: Solo Painter show
January, Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, TX: “A Grand Affair,” group exhibition

2007

December, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA: “Small Works Show,” group exhibition
December, Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, TX: “Alice in Wonderland,” group exhibition
November, Davis Gallery, Austin, TX: group exhibition
June-July, Winston-Wachter Gallery, Seattle, WA: group exhibition
April, Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, TX: Solo Painter show

2006

December, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA: “Small Works Show,” group exhibition
November, Art Amici Fine Art Gallery, Austin, TX: East Austin Studio Tour, group exhibition
November, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA: “The Artist’s Process,” group exhibition
September, Art in Embassy Program, Republic of Cyprus: Painting selected to be part of program
September, Texas Freedom Network Art Auction, silent art auction benefit
August, Galerie Dalray, New Orleans, LA: group exhibition
July, Hespe Gallery, San Francisco, CA: group figurative exhibition
July, Bella Creo Fine Art Gallery, Boerne, TX: group exhibition
April, F8 Fine Art Gallery, Austin, TX: two-painter/two-photographer show
March, Austin Visual Arts Association: juried figurative art exhibition

2005

November, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA: group exhibition
November, Art Amici Fine Art Gallery, Austin, TX: East Austin Studio Tour, group exhibition
April, F8 Fine Art Gallery, Austin, TX: solo painter exhibition

2004

November, Art Amici Fine Art Gallery, Austin, TX: East Austin Studio Tour, group exhibition
November, F8 Fine Art Gallery, Austin, TX: “Art Wide Shut,” group show
October, Texas Hill Country Invitational Art Show, Boerne, TX: a featured artist
September, Women and their Work Gallery, Austin, TX: “Red Hot Red Dot”, art show & silent auction
August, Art Amici Fine Art Gallery, Austin, TX: “Home Is Where the Art Is,” organizer & participant
August, F8 Fine Art Gallery, Austin, TX: “Retro Show” group exhibition
July, Spirit Echoes Inc. Fine Arts Festival, Austin, TX: juried show
June, F8 Fine Art Gallery, Austin, TX: two-painter exhibition, sold-out show
April, Guerrilla Gallery Ladyfest Art Show, Austin, TX: juried art exhibition
April, Art Amici Fine Art Gallery, Austin, TX: East Austin Studio Tour, group exhibition
April, Austin Fine Arts Festival, Austin, TX: displayed artwork & gave painting portrait demos
January, Zandoozi Gallery, Austin, TX: solo exhibition

2003

December, Art Amici Fine Art Gallery, Austin, TX: “Salon des RefusŽs,” group exhibition
November, Art Amici Fine Art Gallery, Austin, TX: East Austin Studio Tour, group exhibition
November, Texas Freedom Network Art Auction, silent art auction benefit
April, Blue Genie Art Industries, Austin, TX: “Spring Art Show,” group exhibition

published

Fine Art Connoisseur, July/August 2021 issue, pp. 95-97. “Processing Pan-demon-ium”

San Antonio Current, July, 2021: “Capturing the Moment: Artist Jennifer Balkan explores the here and now with “Pan-demon-ium”

New American Paintings, July, 2021, No. 156

Realism Today, October 2019: “A Short History of Blue: I Feel Blue Much of the Time”

Forbes Magazine, August, 2019: “Jennifer Balkan on Evoking Emotion in Paint”

The Austinot, August, 2019: “7 Outstanding Fine Artists to Know and Appreciate”

The Independent (Ireland), July 7, 2019: “What Lies Beneath”

American Art Collector, June 2019: “The Beast Within”

Fine Art Connoisseur, July, 2019“It’s Not Always Acceptable”

Poets/Artist Magazine, September, 2017 “Familia”

Poets/Artist Magazine, August, 2017 “Woman as Warrior”
Paint & Draw Magazine, August, 2017
Poets/Artist Magazine, June, 2017, “The New Nude”
Artists on Art Magazine, May 2017, published my article “I Feel Blue Much of the Time”
Eastside Magazine, February 2017, “Beneath the Mask”
Fine Art Connoisseur, January 2017, Go Figure
Poets and Artists Magazine, 2017, interviewed by Walt Morton for Artist of the Week
Savvy Painter interview for podcast, November 2016
American Art Collector, June 2015 “Unfurl at Gallery 1261”
Austin Woman Magazine, November 2014
Combustus, September 2014
The New York Optimist, September, 2014
The Austin Review, May 2014, Cover artist and interview
Poets and Artists, May 2014, "Raw Beauty" curated by Sergio Lopez
American Art Collector, May, 2013, “Jennifer Balkan & John McCarthy: Disguises and Disappearances”
Sacramento Bee, January, 2013, “About Face” self-portrait show at the Elliot Fouts Gallery”
Austin Chronicle, January, 2013, “Top Ten from Visual Art in 2012″
Tribeza, September, 2013, featured artist
Austin Chronicle, March, 2012, “Jennifer Balkan: Peep Holes”
American Art Collector, March, 2012, “Peep Holes: Jennifer Balkan”
Austin Chronicle, November, 2010, “East Austin Studio Tour”
American Art Collector, November, 2010, “Women Painting Women”
Austin Visual Arts Awards, 2009, nominated for Artist of the Year in 2-Dimensional Art
Austin Chronicle, November, 2008, “Welcome to My Studio”
Austin Woman, September, 2008, “Keep Austin Artistic: Jennifer Balkan, Painter”
Austin Chronicle, May, 2008, “Jennifer Balkan: Hidden Meaning”
Southwest Art, May, 2008, “Seriously Funny: six artists view life with imagination and wit”
Falls Church News, January, 2008, review published
New American Paintings, October, 2007, artwork published
Austin Chronicle, May, 2007, “Jennifer Balkan: Her New Work”
Farfelu Magazine, Summer 2006, artwork published
Edifice Wrecked, Spring, 2006, artwork and interview published
Southwest Art Magazine, December 2005, “Artist to Watch”
West Austin News, May 2005
Southwest Art, December 2004
Austin Monthly, October 2004, “Jennifer Balkan, Painting With a Passion”
Austin American Statesman Xlent, April, July 2004
Austin Chronicle, February 2004, January 2004

teaching experience

2022-present Director and Instructor at Dojo Academy, classes in classical realism

2018-21 Instructor of group classes at Atelier Dojo Austin

2020 Faculty at Realism Live: A Global Virtual Experience

2019 Faculty at FACE (Fine Art Convention Expo) in Williamsburg, VA

2019 Instructional Portrait Painting video, Streamline Publisher

2018 Cofounded Atelier Dojo Austin, realist art academy

2017 Private classes, figure painting and portraiture instruction
2016 Private classes, figure painting and portraiture instruction
2016 Georgetown Art Center, Portrait Oil Painting Workshop
2015 Private classes, figure painting and portraiture instruction
2015 Georgetown Art Center, Portrait Oil Painting Workshop
2014 Private classes, figure painting and portraiture instruction
2014 Two portrait workshops at Georgetown Art Center, private classes in studio; private group studio
classes, figure painting and portraiture instruction
2013 Private group studio classes, figure painting and portraiture instruction
2012 Private group studio classes, figure painting
2011 Private group studio classes, figure painting
2009 Private group studio classes, figure painting
2008 Private group studio classes, figure painting and portraiture instruction
2007 Private group studio classes, figure painting and still-life instruction
2007 Austin Waldorf School, 12th Grade oil painting and drawing self-portraiture instructor
2006 Austin Waldorf School, 11th Grade oil painting and drawing still-life instructor
2006 Sculpture Academy of Austin, figurative painting educator
2005 Sculpture Academy of Austin, figurative drawing
2004 Austin Fine Arts Festival, gave portrait demonstrations

awards

Portrait Society of America, 2023, Select 50

Portrait Society of America, 2017, Texas Top Ten
Academy of Realist Art in Boston, 2016, selected to participate in figurative painting competition
Austin Chronicle Readers’ Poll, Best Visual Artist of 2015
Portrait Society of America, 2015, First Merit
Portrait Society of America, 2015, 9th Place

presentations & radio

2024 Learn to Paint Podcast: interviewed

2021 John Dalton’s “Gently Does It” Podcast: interviewed

2016 Savvy Painter Podcast: interviewed

2012 KLRU, Austin, TX: interviewed for "Generous Art" project

2008 90.5 KUT Radio, Austin, TX: interviewed for “Arts Eclectic” show
2008 91.7 KOOP Radio, Austin, TX: interviewed for “Visual Aid” show
2008 University of Texas, Austin, TX: guest instructor for figure painting class in Theatre Department
2006 Women and their Work Gallery, Austin, TX: “Show and Tell Digital Slide Jam,” discussed artwork
2004 f8 Fine Art Gallery, Austin, TX: “Lunch Brake for Art,” discussed perspective and technique

curator/juror experience

2012 Selected participants and finalists for Georgetown Art Hop Competition
2006 Judged finalists for Rising Star program from Blackland Prairie Elementary School in Round Rock, TX
2004 Women Who Paint Women, Little City Coffeehouse, Austin, curator & participant of 6-woman show