Jen Mitchell

Photo: Trendy Duncan

She Drinks the Wild Air

I grew up on a small island in Northwest USA, and now create art in the beautiful town of Denmark, Western Australia. I am deeply inspired by the contrasting landscapes of my two homes - one ancient and arid, and the other young and verdant.

Whether working in pure silver to create one-of-a kind pieces of wearable art, or working in oils and acrylics on canvas, I love the way in which the rich texture and light of these different media remind us to see the beauty in everyday life.

My current fine silver jewelry project is called She Drinks the Wild Air, and is inspired byRalph Waldo Emerson’s timeless advice to “live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air”. This project seeks to explore and celebrate the drive toward wilderness and wanderlust in our modern society, and examines feminine identity in wild spaces.

The Operculum Series is cast from real operculum of Turban Shells (Lunella torquata) that I have found between Walpole and Albany, and celebrates the strength and beauty of the South Coast of Western Australia.

Education 

2008-2009

MSc of Human Rights, London School of Economics

2003-2006

BA (Honours), International Development Studies, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Exhibitions 

Solo

2019

Unravelling, Vancouver Arts Centre (Albany, WA)

2018

4 AM, Butter Factory Studios (Denmark, WA)

2017

2016

2016

Big Fig, Art in the Atrium (Denmark, WA)

She Drinks the Wild Air, Ellis House (Perth, WA)

Wanderlust, Art in the Atrium (Denmark, WA)

Group

2019

Touchstones, Denmark Artshouse (Denmark, WA)

2018

Castles in the Air (Albany, WA)

2018

Butter Factory (Denmark, WA)

2017

A brush with Canvas, Great Southern Art and Craft Trail, Riverfront Gallery (Denmark, WA)

2016

Consuming Eden, The Cannery (Esperance, WA)