ARTIST STATEMENT
Drawing from historical, symbolic, religious and mythological imagery, Jenny Chernansky uses new media paired with classical techniques to explore contemporary issues surrounding perceptions of female roles and femininity. By tracing anew an ontology of female representation and inequality Jenny translates contemporary feminist ideas in the context of mythological and religious ideologies into works using image transfers, oil, watercolor, pencil, charcoal, and other media. Concepts of the shadow self, feminine archetypes, and the virgin/whore dichotomy are often addressed. Jenny’s practice explores themes relating to historic depictions of female figures from religion and mythology which have embodied negative societal archetypes in an attempt to rewrite the narrative from a more empathetic viewpoint which seeks to confront and unify the split in perception.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Having Slovak roots while growing up in Chicago and spending almost 20 years in New Orleans, Jenny Chernansky’s work reflects on how the feminine identity has developed from history, religion, and mythology. Using a mixture of contemporary and historic mediums and techniques such as oil painting and photography, she attempts to take a new look at the narrative that has held a long shadow over our modern culture. Jenny Chernansky’s work has been shown internationally in Hong Kong, London, Budapest, as well as shows throughout the US and Mexico. Jenny’s work has received several Juror’s choice and honorable mention awards, as well as the R.K. Mitchell Award for Excellence and In 2020 Jenny was interviewed for a solo feature in Les Femmes Folles: Women in Art. Jenny attended the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, received her BA from Columbia College Chicago and MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
© Jenny Chernansky