Jennifer Packer

Jennifer Packer, born in 1984, grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended the Tyler School of Art at Temple University, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2007. In 2012, she completed her Master of Fine Arts in painting and printmaking at Yale University.

Packer is known for her spontaneous and intimate works that often feature portraits of subjects captured in authentic moments, frequently depicting friends and family in settings imbued with a relaxed intimacy. The subjects in her paintings seem unaware of the artist's gaze; she delves deeply into the scene, reconstructing reality through broken lines and warm fields of color.

However, Packer's works remain enigmatic. Emotionally complex and layered, her compositions incorporate subjects and backgrounds on the same plane, blurring the lines between the two and distancing immediate understanding of the artwork. The images retain their secrets and composure, and as the artist hopes, reflect the intricate and subterranean dynamics of life and relationships. An example of her work, Better Left Unsaid (2023), encapsulates these themes beautifully, inviting viewers to explore the depths of human experience through her unique lens.