About
Jenny Blake Artist
J E N N Y B L A K E artist
Biography
Jenny Blake
Raised in the Southern Highlands with six siblings, I had a free-range childhood immersed in nature — exploring ponds, paddocks, and bushland for hours on end. This early freedom nurtured a vivid imagination and a deep, lifelong appreciation for both the natural world and people.
My work tells stories of fragility and strength in people and nature. Working across diverse materials and mediums, I create abstract landscapes, portraits, mixed media, assemblage, and installations.
In my landscape paintings, I use non-traditional tools to build, peel back, and rework layers, allowing the surfaces to mimic the organic textures and processes of nature.
My practice is always evolving. I embrace experimentation, new materials, and fresh challenges with joy and curiosity, constantly learning across all art forms.
Curriculum vitae
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
2017 - Diploma of Visual Art Student, CIT Canberra Institute of Technology
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 Tipping point - Strathnairn Arts Holt ACT
2019 Block by Block - Strathnairn Arts Holt ACT
2019 Sea Series - Splatter Gallery, Belconnen ACT
2018 Sea Series - Niugini Arabica Duffy, Canberra ACT
2018 Block by Block – M16 Art Space, Canberra ACT
2015 Beyond our Hot Horizon - Strathnairn Gallery Canberra ACT
2008 Skylines - All Bar Nun Gallery Space, Canberra ACT
2006 Earth -Yarralumla Woolshed, Canberra ACT
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 BRTYER - Tyger Gallery Yass
2021 GX Art Trail Strathnairn Canberra
2021 OutsideIn | InsideOut Belconnen Arts Centre
2018 Craft ACT -2018 Emerging Contemporaries
2017 CIT Diploma of Visual Arts Graduation Exhibition
2016 Illumi NOIR - Design Studio, CIT REID Campus Canberra ACT
2015 Balance - The National Botanic Gardens Gallery, Canberra ACT
2010 COM.PULSIVE - The Q Gallery, Queanbeyan NSW
2008 Secrets - Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Canberra ACT
2007 Autumn Spectrum - Old Milk Factory Gallery, Bowral NSW
2006 Milk Factory Gallery Bowral Annual Artists Show
ART PRIZE SUBMISSIONS
2021 Lethbridge Landscape Prize, After the Fires Announced in the - Salon des Refuses
2019 Archibald prize entry. Coralie, portrait of Coralie Wood
2018 Archibald prize entry. Front Page, portrait of Bree Winchester
2018 Winner graduation prize, to exhibit work in the 2018 Craft ACT Emerging Contemporaries
2016 Canberra Contemporary Art Space members show
2014 Tuggeranong Art Centres Environmentally Art Prize
2013 Strathnairn Gallery Squares Show
2006 Radford Art Prize
ART TEACHING
Tyger Gallery - Seascapes painting for beginners
Spatter Gallery – Portrait painting for beginners
Belconnen Arts Centre – Portrait Painting
Mocca Preschool - Art Play
Forrest primary school holiday program - Art play
Messengers program -high school youth - Art therapy
RELEVANT ART EMPLOYMENT
Blake and Chalkley Communications - Principal
ABC Local Radio NSW - Marketing Manager
Canberra Theatre Centre - Marketing and Communications Manager
National Gallery of Australia - Director of Communications
Tuggeranong Arts Centre - Manager Messengers Youth Program