Who is Jess Schwarz?
Who is Jess Schwarz?
Jess Schwarz is a dedicated artist and researcher with a passion for exploring the complexities of disability, drawing inspiration from their personal experiences with deafness and autism. A recent graduate of Columbus College of Art & Design, Jess currently works as a studio technician and instructor at the Pittsburgh Glass Center.
As an emerging artist, Jess has garnered recognition for their work, including the Kennedy Center VSA Emerging Artist Award (2023/2024) and the Gertrude Prize for Art History (2023). Their thought-provoking sculptures and installations have been featured in esteemed venues such as Rayburn House in Washington DC, Wild Goose Creative in Columbus, Ohio, Union Street Gallery in Chicago Heights, Illinois, and Beeler Gallery in Columbus, Ohio.
In the realm of academic research, Jess delves into the enduring impact of the Holy Roman Empire on historical and contemporary Russian politics. Their interests also extend to exploring the intersections of religions in the Caucasus Mountain region, the Middle East, and Russia. Jess has shared their insights at various symposiums, including the Southern University of New York Undergraduate Art History Symposium and the Columbus College of Art & Design Art History Symposium.
Beyond their artistic and academic pursuits, Jess has contributed to the field of curation and art handling, actively participating in the assembly of numerous gallery exhibitions. In addition, they are deeply committed to nurturing creativity in others, particularly through teaching. They have played an integral role in working with fellow artists, teens, and children. Jess's dedication to fostering artistic expression extends to collaborative efforts with artists, where they share insights and techniques to empower and uplift the creative community. With a commitment to pushing boundaries and fostering dialogue through their creative endeavors, Jess continues to make a significant impact in both the art world and scholarly community.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
Columbus College of Art & Design BFA
Ball State University Period of Study
Internship and Work Experience
2023 - Present Glass Studio Technician Apprentice Pittsburgh Glass Center
2023- 2023 Glassblowing Studio Assistant Kinney Hall
2022 Intern ROY G BIV Gallery
2021 - 2023 Sculpture Lab Manager Battelle Hall
2020 - 2023 Gallery Assistant Beeler Gallery
Conferences
2023 Columbus College of Art & Design CHROMA Symposium
2022 Columbus College of Art & Design CHROMA Symposium
2022 Southern University of New York Undergraduate Art History Symposium
2021 Columbus College of Art & Design Art History Symposium
2020 Columbus College of Art & Design Art History Symposium
Awards & Honors
2023/2024 The Kennedy Center Emerging Young Artists Award
2023 International Sculpture Center Outstanding Student Award Nominee
2023 Gertrude Prize for Art History
Exhibition Record
2024/2025 VSA Emerging Young Artist "Interchange" Exhibition Tour
Rayburn House (Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.)
Volkswagen Group of America Headquarters (Reston, VA)
VAE Gallery in partnership with Arts Access North Carolina (Raleigh, NC)
Kennedy Center Hall of States (Washington, D.C.)
Access Gallery (Lafayette, CO)
2024 Tiny Show - It’s Gonna Be Huge. Wild Goose Creative
2023 Healing/Nobility/Community Union Street Gallery
2023 Columbus College of Art & Design CHROMA Exhibition Beeler Gallery
2023 Have You Seen My Dog? Acock Gallery
2023 WHO WHAT WHERE WHEN WHY? Acock Gallery
2023 Untitled. Byers Gallery
2023 GUTS! Byers Gallery
2023 We Exist. Byers Gallery
2022 Integrated Showcase Byers Gallery
2022 Fiber Collections New Byers Gallery
2022 NexUS Acock Gallery
2022 Columbus College of Art & Design CHROMA Exhibition Beeler Gallery
2022 Assembled Identities: A Community Collection New Byers Gallery
2022 Praxis II New Byers
2021 Art History Student Collective Online Exhibition Digital Exhibition
2021 Art History Student Collective Exhibition Byers Gallery
2021 Happiness as A Form of Resistance Byers Gallery
2021 Columbus College of Art & Design CHROMA Exhibition Digital Exhibition
2020 Art History Student Collective Mail Art Project Digital Exhibition
2020 Columbus College of Art & Design CHROMA Exhibition Digital Exhibition
2018 Ball State University Annual Student Art Show Griner Gallery
Curating and Art Handling Experience
2023 This is Becoming a Pattern Hodge Gallery
2023 Art On Fire Hodge Gallery
2023 Undefined Hodge Gallery
2023 MFA Thesis Exhibition Beeler Gallery
2023 Mentor; Mentee: Celeste Malvar-Stewart and Tracy Powell. Beeler Gallery
2022-2023 Mirko Ilić: Tolerance Beeler Gallery
2022 Hollis Hammonds / Sasha West (Awake in the Dark) Beeler Gallery
2022 Michael Mercil: Some thing(s) Beeler Gallery
2022 1,000 Miles Per Hour: Fotofocus Biennial Exhibition Beeler Gallery
2022 Columbus College of Art & Design CHROMA Exhibition Beeler Gallery
2022 MFA Thesis Exhibition Beeler Gallery
2022 These Are Things. Beeler Gallery
2022 Assembled Identities: A Community Collection New Byers Gallery
2021- 2022 Land Beeler Gallery
2021-2022 i know it’s the end & i am full of beauty Beeler Gallery
2021 Triple Blood Knot Beeler Gallery
2021 Bianca Beck, Tamara Gonzales, Christina Forrer Beeler Gallery
2021 A Bridge to Uncertainty Beeler Gallery
2021 Black Lives Matter Beeler Gallery
2021 Columbus College of Art & Design CHROMA Exhibition Beeler Gallery
2021 November Beeler Gallery
2018 Hillforest Historical Home Hillforest
Technical Abilities
Google Suite Adobe Suite Microsoft Office Audio Editing
Operation of Exhibition Spaces MIG Welding Casting Autodesk Inventor
Foundry Handbuilding/Throwing Glass Kiln Schedules Woodworking equipment
Glassblowing/Working Metalworking Studio Maintenance Handling archival material
Mold-making Soldering Sewing Elementary French
Library Services Archiving Art Handling Secretarial Duties
Glass Studio Technical Work/Maintenance Repairing Kilns Teaching/Instructing