Listen. 2006
Oil on canvas
Jessica Rehfield (They/them, b. 1982, Dzánti K’ihéeni, Alaska) is a socially-engaged visual artist and teacher whose work explores language, intolerance and social justice in a variety of mediums and formats including charcoal, oil, graphite, printmaking, social engagement work, interdisciplinary pieces with fabric, sound and multi-modal construction; curation; and exhibitions and production. They live and work in unceded homelands of the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Their current work explores the intersection of artwork and advocacy, Queer and Jewish identity, Queer community advocacy, nature and response to climate grief, and serves to create community experiences and compensated opportunities for Queer artists to make art (through partner organizations).
They have shown work at Hamersly Library at Western Oregon University (Monmouth, OR), The Arts Center (Corvallis, OR), Salem Art Association (Salem, OR), Friendly House (Portland, OR) and most recently This Is Not an Exit Gallery in Eastside Jewish Commons (Portland, OR).
They have held residencies at Salem Art Association, The Arts Center, Eastside Jewish Commons, Ateliér Meridian and Mudshark LLC with work on queer representation, trans beauty, historical throughlines and research on Queer and Jewish artist communities. Their work in residence at Salem Art Association included making a giant, multi-Pride flag of 12 individual pride flags and a collection of work by 10 Queer artists as the zine, Queer MIS/representation. An Artist talk about queer and trans rights from that residency can be found here.
Rehfield was a Fellow with Art/Lab in Portland in 2021-22 and Artist-in-Residence at Eastside Jewish Commons, where they painted two large paintings in a public space, in research of the Pale of Settlement and Jewish Partisan activity during WWII and an Artist in Residence at The Arts Center in Corvallis where they explored Yiddish as a heritage language and wrote and illustrated a primer for learning Yiddish with English transliteration. At present, Rehfield’s art invites audiences to consider loss and suffering in the midst of pandemic recovery, assaults on the rights of transgender people, and the resurgence of antisemitism. They also contributed to the Artist’s Grief Deck and are featured in the online exhibition, Solo_Show: Behind the Times.
Born in Dzánti K’ihéeni (Juneau) in Alaska, Rehfield earned their BA in Art from University of Alaska Southeast (2006) and MFA in Craft in Drawing and Painting from Oregon College of Art and Craft in 2019. Their master’s thesis considered, in charcoal drawings, Jewish and American identities in light of the resurgence of anti-Semitism enabled and emboldened by the Trump administration. Their work highlighted similarities between that political moment and the historical example of the-once-democratic Weimar Germany’s descent into fascism.
Rehfield imagines social engagement projects, most notably The Art of Drag (2024), QUEER LOVE (2024), My Own Flag to Raise (2022), Queer Artist Series (2022) Language World (2016) and the upcoming exhibit, Two Spirit: Dual Natures: Indigenous Drag Perspectives on Climate Disaster (2025) in which they create work with participants, engage together in a process of inquiry and reflection, and render the international and historical forces that inform and shape both artist and participants’ world views and identities. Rehfield has commissions and murals in Alaska, Oregon, California, North Carolina and Jamaica, and has received awards in group and individual exhibitions. An artist talk about their 2022 work in residence, My Own Flag to Raise, can be seen here.
Jessica is an instructor at Ash Creek Arts Center where they teach multiple art processes including printmaking and drawing. They served as Arts Education Program Coordinator for the Fairbanks Arts Association in 2008-2009, managing the Artists-In-Schools program, a national program that expanded opportunities to host teaching artists in school districts across the Interior of Alaska. They founded and curated the Queer Artist Series: 2SLGBTQIAP In Focus for Salem Art Association, a series created to highlight the work and accomplishments of queer artists across the Pacific Northwest and neighboring states in 2023-2024. They have upcoming projects with Western Oregon University and a public community center in Oregon to continue creating safe spaces for dialogue with queer artists about their work and lives in the arts.
Artist Statement: “In my work, both community-oriented and individual, I strive to share unknown histories and confront the state of miseducation about Jewish and Queer people by sharing information about both identities, and creating opportunities for Queer and Jewish artists. My work involves introducing the public to ideas and people they may not have had an opportunity to engage with, in the formats of artwork, artist talks, art events and exhibitions. I urge every person, artist and audience alike, to reach outside your comfort zone and become involved with the communities where you live - time to open up.”
-Jessica Rehfield, MFA
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2019 MFA in Craft in Drawing & Painting, Oregon College of Art and Craft Commitment to Excellence Scholarship 2017-2019
2006 BLA Art, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK. Dean's List, 2005
2005 Teaching Artist Residency and Workshops, Alaska School System, Juneau, AK
2003 International Student Exchange, Charles-de-Gaulle Université de Lille 3, Lille, France
2000 Rising Star Participant, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
Curation
2026 Upcoming, Jew&: Oregon Jewish Artist Communities, AN Bush Gallery, Salem Art Association, Salem, OR
2025 Upcoming, Two Spirit: Dual Natures: Indigenous Drag Perspectives on Climate Change Cannon Gallery, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR
2024 The Art of Drag, AN Bush Gallery, Salem Art Association, Salem, OR
2024 QUEER LOVE, Camas Gallery, Salem Art Association, Salem, OR
2023 Queer Artist Series, Salem Art Association, Salem, OR
2022 My Own Flag To Raise and Queer MIS/representation, Residency exhibition & multi-Artist publication, Focus Gallery, Salem, OR
Workshops/Special Training
2024 Botanical Printmaking with Bee Shay, Trace Monotypes with Lynn Hubner, Plant Monotypes with Rachel Reeve, Monmouth, OR
2022 Artists In Schools training w/Benjamin Mefford, Salem Art Association, Salem, OR
2020 Intaglio processes w/Jane Pagliarulo, Atelier Meridian Fine Art Print Studio, Portland, OR
2018 Mold-making w/Chanda Zea, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR
2017-2019 LASER rastering and etching, vinyl-plotting and 3-D printing w/Benny Hill, OCAC, Portland, OR
Residencies
2023 Artist-in-Residence, Trans Beauty: Beaches and Bodies, Studio, Salem Art Association, Salem, OR
2022 Artist-in-Residence, My Own Flag to Raise, Studio and Exhibition at Salem Art Association, Salem, OR
2022 Artist-in-Residence, Eastside Jewish Commons, Portland, OR
2021-22 Fellowship Co/Lab: Art/Lab, Portland, OR
2021-22 Artist-in-Residence, The Arts Center, Corvallis, OR
2020 Artist-In-Residence, Atelier Meridian Fine Art Print Studio, Portland, OR
2018 October, Painting and Ceramics Residency, Mudshark LLC/Eutectic Gallery, Portland, OR
Exhibitions
Solo
2024 When I was 35 it was a very good year, Hamersly Library, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR
2022 My Own Flag to Raise, Focus Gallery, Salem Art Association, Salem, OR
2022 Mayn Kneydl Illustrations, Family House, Portland, OR
2017 Monotypes & Prints, Aria Gin Tasting Room, Portland, OR
2016 Certificate of AWkward, Oregon College of Art and Craft, OR
2014 The Jamaica People Project, Buncombe County Public Library, Asheville, NC
2005 Jessica Rehfield: New Works, The Friendly Planet Loft, Juneau, AK
Group
2024 Tivkah, Eastside Jewish Commons Gallery, Portland, OR
2024 QUEER LOVE, Camas Gallery, Salem Art Association, Salem, OR
2024 This Is Queer, The Art Deptartment, Salem, OR
2023 Evolution of Practice, The Arts Center, Corvallis, OR
2022 Queer MIS/representation, Focus Gallery, Salem Art Association, Salem, OR
2022 From the Ground Up, Art/Lab Fellows Exhibition, Eastside Jewish Commons, Portland, OR
2022 Artists-in-Residence Exhibition, Corrine Woodman Gallery, The Arts Center, Corvallis, OR
2021 Art Social Group Show, The Geode, Portland, OR
2020 Artists’ Grief Deck, virtual exhibit, Artists’ Literacies Institute, NYC
2020 Solo_Show: Behind the Times virtual exhibition, Alyssa Davis Gallery, NYC
2019 Re|Solve MFA in Craft Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR
2018 Impetus Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR
2017 Winter Artists Showcase Erickson Gallery, Portland, OR
2017 Graduate MFA Student Showcase Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR
2016 Printmaking Portfolio Exhibit Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR
2014-2015 Open Studios Phil Mechanic Arts Bldg., River Arts District, Asheville, NC
2013 Members Show Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League, Swannanoa, NC
2007 Fear, The Ruby Room, Juneau, AK
Awards
2025 Oregon Craft microgrant, Your Own Flag to Raise artist talk & workshop, Rainmaker Craft Initiative, Portland, OR
2024 Nature Printing Society Fellowship, Monmouth, OR
2021-22 Jewish Arts Fellowship, Co/Lab: Art/Lab, Portland, OR
2017-2019 Commitment to Excellence Scholarship, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR
2008 Juror's Choice, Bear Gallery, Fairbanks Arts Association Juried Art Show, Fairbanks, AK
2005 People's Choice, UAS Student Art Show, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK
2004 Juror's Choice Award, UAS Student Art Show, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK
2000 Partial Tuition Waiver, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK
2000 Full Honors 4-Year Scholarship, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
2000 Rising Star Illustration Student Award, SCAD, Savannah, GA
Work/Teaching/Volunteering
2025 Upcoming Artist lecture and workshop, Hoffman Center for the Arts, Manzanita, OR
2024-present, Arts Instructor, Ash Creek Arts Center, Independence, OR
2024 Magic at the Mill, holiday arts installation, Willamette Heritage Center, Salem, OR
2024 Session Presentor, When the Culture Tide is Rising: How to Hang ON to Curate Queer, Trans and Drag Programs, OMA Conference, Oregon Museums Association, Coos Bay, OR
2024 Guest speaker, Diversifying Oregon Histories (History 169), Willamette University, Salem, OR
2024-2025 Jewish Artists and Jewish-American Heritage Month series, Corvallis Museum, Corvallis, OR
2024 Fine Art Judge, Oregon State Fair, Salem, OR
2024 Artist talk & workshop, Artist Proposals, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR
2024 Juror, Spring Student Show, Willamette University, Salem, OR
2023-2024 Instructor, Summer Arts Camp, Salem Art Association, Salem, OR
2023 Instructor, Arts Adventures, The Arts Center, Corvallis, OR
2022-present, Guest Curator, Salem Art Association, Salem, OR
2022 Write and Draw Your Story, Artist, Portland Public Schools, Portland, OR
2022 Storyboarding, Arts Alive! Instructor, The Arts Center, Corvallis, OR
2022 Draw Your Story workshop with Mayn Kneydl reading, Friendly House, Portland, OR
2022 Mayn Kneydl, Evening book talk and reading, Friendly House, Portland, OR
2021 ABC Community Nights Workshop Host (online), Friendly House, Portland, OR
2021-22 Judge, Bi Book Awards, virtual
2020 Classes postponed due to COVID-19
(Visual Literacy: Propaganda, Art and Advertising; Sketchbook and Writing Practices; Matisse and The Line),
True North Studios, Portland, OR
2019 Visual Artist, Portland Art Social, Portland, OR
2018-2019 Judge, Portland Metro Scholastic Art Awards, Portland, OR
2017 Demo Artist, Lake Oswego Arts Festival, Lake Oswego, OR
2016 Curator of Art, Asheville Percussion Festival, Asheville, NC
2014 Art and Literacy Tutor, Trenchtown Reading Centre, Kingston, Jamaica
2013-2014 Arts For Life Instructor, Mission Hospital, Asheville, NC
2012 Drawing, Residential Boarding Facility, Hendersonville, NC
2011 1,000 Easels Artist, Regional Area Arts Council & City of Asheville, Asheville, NC
2008 Drawing, Private Instruction, Fairbanks, AK
2009 Artist, UAF Art in the Park, Fairbanks, AK
2008 Artist, Creamer’s Field Art Walk, Fairbanks, AK
2005-2006 Teaching Artist Workshop Facilitator, Basic Arts Institute, Alaska Arts Education Consortium, Juneau, AK
Publications
Salem Art Association
The Art of Drag page
InSight - The Art of Drag (video) Capital Community Media
“The Art of Drag,” Oregon ArtsWatch, September 2024
My Own Flag To Raise page
"Pride flag display prompts conversation, backlash at Salem Art Association,” Salem Reporter, October 2022
https://salemart.org/events/artist-in-residence-my-own-flag-to-raise-jessica-rehfield/
Artist-in-Residence Jessica Rehfield announcement
OPEN STUDIO hours with Artist-in-Residence My Own Flag To Raise, SAA
Opening Reception: My Own Flag To Raise 2022
Artist Talk, My Own Flag To Raise
Co/Lab:Art/Lab, Jewish Artist Fellowship
2024 Tikvah exhibition, This Is Not An Exit, Eastside Jewish Commons, Portland
“Art & Judaism” Contemporary Jewish Artists, From the Ground Up, Oregon ArtsWatch, 2022
From the Ground Up exhibit announcement
Jessica Rehfield, Art/Lab artist talk: Jewish history, Queer artists and belonging; announcement
Co/Lab:Art/Lab cohorts
https://colabpdx.org/events/
Jewish Review of Portland
Author/painter brings Yiddish to life, Kerry Politzer, The Jewish Review, 2022
Book, paintings bring Yiddish to life, Jewish Review archive, Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, May 10 2022
Eastside Jewish Commons
Queer artist Jessica Rehfield, talk on Jewish histories, body, land and belonging
Art/Lab From the Ground Up announcement
Art/Lab multi-artist multi-media exhibit "From The Ground Up"
Friendly House
Artist lecture + showing at Friendly House in PDX
The Arts Center, Corvallis
https://theartscenter.net/evolution-of-practice/
https://theartscenter.net/artists-in-residence-2/
https://theartscenter.net/artists-residence-exhibit-2022/
AIR Exhibit preview 2022
The Arts Center Artists-in-Residence talk 2022
2017-2018
Julia.Jean Journal, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR
2005
First Friday Solo Exhibition
Contact
instagram: alenereh
email: jessica rehfield art at gmail dot com
All images and text (c) Jessica Rehfield
Tevet 5785/Jan 2025