Jayna Mikolaitis received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Painting and her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Boston University. She was awarded Boston University’s Arts Initiative Summer Research Award for her work studying the production, cultural significance, and metaphoric applications of weaving and textile production. She presented her research in a solo exhibition at Boston University’s Center for Teaching and Learning and at the university’s annual stemposium. She was nominated for the Yale Norfolk School of Art Summer Residency program and has recently exhibited in Boston’s newest pop-up gallery space, NO CALL, NO SHOW. She currently works full-time at Praise Shadows Art Gallery as a Gallery Manager of Sales and Marketing and is a freelance studio assistant for local artists.
Artist Statement
I am a painter, fiber artist, and designer based in Watertown, MA. In my work, I think about sheltering, the role of caregivers, the connection between queerness and urban gardening, and the phrase “species loneliness” (coined by Robin Wall Kimmerer). I combine references from domestic interiors, manicured lawns, and outdoor spaces to create inhabited worlds that depict the tensions— and simultaneous symbiosis— among people, plants, and other living beings. While I enjoy humor and play in my work, I love to use exaggerations of scale, proportion, and color to convey a sense of instability. In the spirit of push-and-pulls, this instability oftentimes coexists with balanced, harmonious compositions. It’s the combination— of both grounded, yet absurd work— that pushes my practice forward. Through my work, I hope to probe the dilemma of species loneliness and inquire how queer communities can play a role in combating it.
Instagram: @jaynamikolaitis
images of work
