Biography
Jena Campbell is a fine artist living in Philadelphia, PA. Jena received her traditional training at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and earned a Certificate in painting in 2004. After graduating from PAFA, Jena began working as a recruiter for PAFA and remained in that position for five years while simultaneously achieving a Bachelor of the Fine Arts (BFA) from the University of Pennsylvania. During this time Jena also continued to exhibit her work throughout Pennsylvania.
After obtaining her BFA in 2008, Jena decided to fulfill a life long dream of volunteering in Africa. For many months, Jena planned her quest to Africa and raised $12,000 for her cause. Jena spent four months living and working at an orphanage for teenage girls in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Jena was greatly impacted by her work with the girls at the Olof Palme Orphans Education Center. When she returned to the US in late 2008, Jena felt compelled to take on a new path with her employment and became a foster care case manager in Philadelphia. Jena spent several months in this position and is now an Adoption Worker for foster children. During her new journey in social services, Jena continued to create and exhibit her paintings while always keeping the girls from Olof Palme in her heart. In 2010, Jena returned to Tanzania to see her girls again.
Today, Jena continues to create new bodies of work while continuing to exhibit throughout Pennsylvania.
Education
- University of Pennsylvania — BFA 2008
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts — Certificate Graduate 2004
Exhibitions
- 2011
- Mt. Calvary Church Gallery — Camp Hill, PA
- 2010
- Arts at 510, Harrisburg — PA
- 2009
- Arts at 510, Harrisburg — PA
- 2008
- Arts at 510, Harrisburg — PA
- Art of State Exhibition — Harrisburg, PA
- International Juried Exhibition — Harrisburg, PA
- 2007
- Sculkykill Gallery — SOLO Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA
- 2006
- Philadelphia Sketch Club — Works on Paper Exhibit, Philadelphia, PA
- 2005
- Fairmount Arts Crawl — Philadelphia, PA
- Gallery 1301 — Juried Alumni Show, Philadelphia, PA
- Gallery Siano — Philadelphia, PA
- 2004
- Gallery Siano — Philadelphia, PA
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts — Annual Student Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA
- 2003
- Gallery 1301 — Juried Show, Philadelphia, PA
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts — Annual Student Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA
- 2002
- Gallery 1301 — Juried Show, Philadelphia, PA
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts — Annual Student Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA
- 2001
- Gallery 1301 — Juried Show, Philadelphia, PA
Awards/Prizes
- Thouron Prize (Faculty Vote) — Penn. Academy of the Fine Arts — 2004
- Charles Toppan Prize — Penn. Academy of the Fine Arts — 2003
- Earl T. Donelson Figure Painting Award — Penn. Academy of the Fine Arts — 2003
- Cast Painting Prize — Penn. Academy of the Fine Arts — 2002