Only Natural introduces us to instantaneous scenes, of the nature of the human, of its inherent need to generate an owned environment, where each one takes its space, inside a visual field assembled in real areas, but imagined by Thomas in her search –as she argues herself – of: “elevating the mundane as a means to make it appear a bit more spiritual and with this find the connection and the magic in everyday experiences”.
Her works surpass real existence when she endows them with profound meanings by the adoption of sensitive and imperceptible fragments of life. Her purpose, to drive them to the plane in which they not only reveal an event but second human natures, are expressed as traces of environments and time within which visualizes and prints the encounter and connection so needed in the present society.
Jena Thomas is an emerging contemporary artist who, after completing her MFA at the University of Miami, already boasts an impressive exhibition record. Recent accolades include being selected as one of the 40 top MFA students in the country by New American Paintings Magazine. Thomas was chosen out of over 750 applicants for the title. She was also selected as an exhibitor for the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art’s “State of the Art 2020” exhibition (which you can experience virtually here). Past recognition includes selection as a finalist for the William and Dorothy Yeck Award and receiving the Ruth Katzman Scholarship from the Art Students’ League of New York