In roughly 15 new pieces, Jenna Von Benedikt showcases the wildlife subject matter she’s most known for, depicted alongside abstracted elements. In many of the paintings in her solo exhibition at Gallery Wild in Jackson, Wyoming, titled Transcendent Beauty, the artist focuses on hummingbirds as an extension of her Birds, Beasts & Bugsseries.
The Little Joys, oil, 48 x 48"
“Each show in Jackson is a chance to celebrate another season of colorful life and majesty that the region offers,” says Von Benedikt. “I focus on my little hummingbird gems with their spiritual beauty and energy, with more focus on flight and interactions between their charming groups and other subjects instead of singular birds this time.”
Von Benedikt adds that she’s also revisiting her Off-Grid bison series, seen in pieces like Meeting Destiny.“Part of Gallery Wild’s mission is to help talk about animal conservation and I love to play visually with that human-animal impact idea, and incorporate those incredible ‘sainted beasts,’ as I say, that roam close in that region. Having been such icons in the United States and in the West, bison will always hold a special space in my shows.”
Sophisticated Jewels, oil, 60 x 90"
In a another “beastly” image, Dreamer, we see an elk among Benedikt’s fluid mark making. “The black and white, more graphic elements—lines and repetitive design—bring a bolder, modern feel for nature lovers that appreciate a more industrial flare, and the creative combination of man-made and the natural,” the artist explains. “Its distinct lines are reminders of boundaries and respectful crossings; reminders of grids and structures that can impact the organic, natural side of things.”
Meeting Destiny, oil, 50 x 40"
This style pops up in hummingbird pieces like Sophisticated Jewels, but we see Von Benedikt switch to a softer, atmospheric setting for most of her other hummingbird subjects. “I imagine the variety they must encounter and the ‘portals of nature’ they must pass through,” says Von Benedikt. “With so much light...gently transitioning from stronger colors, it’s where I make the spiritual connections and named the show Transcendent Beauty. This part of the show is there to depict grace, beauty, and positive movement and connection.”
As in the piece The Little Joys, a scene involving butterflies and hummingbirds, Von Benedikt shares, “I grew up in my faith hearing a phrase: ‘By small and simple means, do great things come to pass.’ Part of the joy we resonate with in nature is owed in large part to these little pollinators. The life, the color, the magic, the beauty that dresses so many spaces. This piece is a tribute to the work and wonder of nature’s little gems, and drawing us closer to the majesty and spirituality that touches us in the outdoors.”
Dreamer, oil, 30 x 60"
Overall, Von Benedikt hopes that viewers of the new works form an “appreciation of the nature here in the West, and the magic and beauty of it lifting our souls. I want people to feel joyful and happy for having experienced my creations and, hopefully, take a slice of my show back into their homes to treasure and remember.”
Transcendent Beauty opens with a reception at Gallery Wild on June 19 from 5 to 8 p.m., and closes on June 29. —
Gallery Wild 80 W. Broadway Avenue, Jackson, WY 83001 • (307) 203-2322 • www.gallerywild.com
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