about
Jensen Twite is an artist, sewist, and designer based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Jensen's art journey began at an early age. She enjoyed playing in various media, from making clay animals to drawing her own paper dolls and constructing elaborate paper houses for them. She spent her free time in elementary school drawing a series of scenes depicting her three dogs, Joe, Sydney, and Gracie, in a rock band called Dogz. As she got older, she admired her mother's realistic portrait drawings and knew it was something she wanted to do as well. After trying and trying and not getting to the level of realism she desired, Jensen was ready to call it quits. Then her school librarian, whom she had been drawing cartoon posters for, requested a drawing of real people - a cast of a TV show that has recently released a book. Jensen accepted the challenge and told herself she could not fail. With her mother's tips and tricks in her mind, she got to work and created her first portrait drawing which was displayed in the school library.
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After unlocking this new ability, Jensen began cranking out drawing after drawing of her favorite musicians and actors. Eventually, she had the idea to draw her favorite singer, Bethany Cosentino, playing a Fender Telecaster. This unlocked a new passion - drawing guitars. Hearing stories of women who wanted to learn guitar but were told to learn piano or something more "feminine" instead, sparked the theme of women's empowerment in Jensen's drawing work. She admired female musicians who were shredding on their guitars and turned the Cosentino drawing into a series that now has over 20 drawings within it.
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In 2019, Jensen graduated from the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. In college, she focused on darkroom photography and colored pencil drawing. The transition from high school to college and college to post-college life inspired a new theme in her work: Nostalgia. Jensen's senior thesis show focused on "slice of life" drawings from her childhood, somber photos that mourned childhood, and collages of "Life Landmarks."
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Now, Jensen continues to pursue her guitarist portraits, but has taken to a new medium - sewing. In 2021, she made her first dress from a thrifted 1960's pattern. She continues to create vintage-inspired dresses and learn as much as she can about sewing and embroidery. She is currently working on designing her own pieces and developing her own brand.
education / exhibitions
EDUCATION
2019 BFA in Photography, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD
EXHIBITIONS
2023 The Blues, Untitled.10, Jeschke Fine Arts Center, USF, Sioux Falls, SD
2022 So it Was / So it is Now, solo show with Yankton Area Arts, G.A.R Hall, Yankton, SD
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2021 Square Mileage: South Dakota Art Show, Untitled.10, Railyard Flats, Sioux Falls, SD
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2020 30 Under 30 Exhibition, "Director's Choice" Digital Presentation, Viridian Artists, New York, NY
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2020 Indie Icons, solo show at Faithe Gallery, Museum of Visual Materials, Sioux Falls, SD
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2020 Feat to Fire: Celebrating 100 Years of Women's Suffrage, Sanchez Art Center East Gallery, Pacifica, CA
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2019 Nocturnal Illuminations, Vanessa Lacy Gallery, Kansas City, MO
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2019 Art as Advocacy: Promoting Equity and Social Justice for Women, Springfield Art Association, Springfield, IL
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2019 Implications: BFA Graduation Exhibition, USD, Vermillion, SD
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2019 (Un)Told Stories: Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies biennial conference Exhibition, USD, Vermillion, SD
2019 Stilwell Student Awards Exhibition, USD, Vermillion, SD *merit award
2018 Stilwell Student Awards Exhibition, USD, Vermillion, SD
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2017 Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Art Contest, Meeker, CO