AboutJessica Elena Aquino (b.1991) is from Santa Ana CA, currently based in Brooklyn, NY. Jessica Elena Aquino is a multidisciplinary artist, educator and horticulturist. Inspired by her grandparents who have woven memories and ancestral knowledge across generations with their hands, Aquino approaches her work as a vehicle to reclaim this lineage. Her practice connects fine art and craft traditions, tracing their origins back to indigenous modes of creation, labor, and exploitation. Aquino combines sculpture, poetry and what she calls " improvisational weavings" to reveal the often invisible (dis)connections between people and nature. This leads to a larger discussion regarding migration, vulnerability and belonging.
Whether she is combining different mediums or using nontraditional materials such as cornhusks, Aquino's work is labor-intensive. With meticulous attention to detail, she imposes complete control over every thread, skillfully pulling and entangling them to create intricate patterns. Aquino determines what is exposed or buried within her handwoven sculptures. By breaking found objects into pieces and re-assembles them, she creates abstract narratives that reflect the fragmented nature of cultural memory. Jessica Elena Aquino earned her B.A from Colgate University and an MFA at the PA Academy of the Fine Arts. She has exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Arlington (2022, Arlington, VA), Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts (2022; Grand Rapids, MI), Creative Art Alliance (2021, Baltimore, MD), and Anna Zorina Gallery (2019; Manhattan, NY). Jessica was an artist in residence at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, Chautauqua School of Art, Textile Arts Center, Santa Fe Art Institute and at The Chrysalis Institute. Aquino was a recipient of the Murray Dessner Travel Grant. She has given visiting artist lectures at Rowan University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Haverford College. Aquino has a background in horticulture and education working for the PA Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, NY. Currently Aquino is participating in the 2024 Canopy Program with the NYC Crit Club |