ARTIST STATEMENT
My creative process is driven by an intrinsic motivation to explore, discover, and create, culminating in a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
I employ a diverse range of materials encountered throughout my practice, including canvas, wood, plastic,
cement, glass, jewelry, and mirrors. My toolkit encompasses brushes, oil and acrylic paints, adhesives, heat
guns, and carving instruments.
As a self-taught artist, I intentionally experiment with material combinations without predetermined plans,
striving to achieve results that are both unexpected and gratifying.
My artistic output draws upon my personal experiences—as a child, wife, mother, and artist—and manifests in
subconscious self-portraits that express emotions such as anger, religious conflict, disillusionment, resistance, resolve, self-confidence, playfulness, hope, and joy.
I consider a piece complete when a clear sense of resolution and mutual understanding between myself and the
artwork has been achieved.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jennifer Taylor was born in Paris, France, to a French mother and an American father who served in the Navy. She spent her formative years in northern Wisconsin, and her artistic work has been noted for its resemblance to Mexican art, likely reflecting her attraction to Catholic iconography.
Ms. Taylor has a degree in Theatre Arts and is professionally known as Jennifer Joan Taylor. Her acting career includes appearances on stage, in commercials, films, and television productions such as The Edge of Night, Chicago Fire, Empire, and Dark Matter.
In 1983, while residing in New York, Ms. Taylor began drawing after receiving a sketch pad and oil pastels from her husband, Garry Henderson. Subsequently, upon moving to Los Angeles, she transitioned to painting with oil on canvas.
After the birth of their son Riley, the family relocated to Chicago in 1990. Following the arrival of their daughter Lily, they moved to Riverside, Illinois, where they established the Riverside Arts Center.
In 2015, Jennifer and Garry moved to Gary, Indiana, attracted by the Lake Michigan beach dunes and the Miller Beach community. In 2019, Ms. Taylor acquired an abandoned house and adjacent lot, transforming them into a private art studio/residence and public garden. Upon completion of renovations, the house was painted fuchsia and adorned with reflective materials, such as jewelry and mirrors, donated by friends and community members.
The SPARKLE HOUSE currently serves local organizations as a venue for fundraising events, and plans are underway to establish a weekly retreat space with occasional interior tours. The public garden features walls constructed from wine bottles, a greenhouse fashioned from repurposed windows, numerous garden sculptures, and Ms. Taylor’s private backyard studio/gallery..
© Jennifer Taylor