Biography:
Tessa Kennedy is a curator and an artist in NYC and Seattle. She has exhibited in various galleries in Manhattan, including Dacia Gallery in the Lower East Side and the Atlantic Gallery in Chelsea. She also shows in the surrounding area of Queens, especially in Long Island City (LIC) at The Plaxall Gallery, where she curates with Long Island City Artists (LIC-A) and where her black-light illumination series of paintings were on display within a special room with internationally exhibiting neon-light artist Kenny Greenberg. Tessa also exhibits with LIC Arts Open and curates for the annual festivals, along with Richard Mazda and at The Factory in LIC.
Although Tessa focused on photography at Washington State University, she mainly remains a self-taught painter; however, she has received mentorship from figurative painter Jeff Hengst in Seattle where she originates. After spending time in New York, she has received guidance from figurative painter Kristy Gordon, who was her instructor at a residency she took in Manhattan. She also took a workshop with Kristy at the NY Academy of Art and is now in her mentorship program. Tessa also views the world as her school as she has traveled to thirty-eight countries and is fascinated by all of the art and interesting people she sees and meets from around the globe. Painting for her is a time of emotional release and for reflection of all that she observes from around the world and feels within.
Giving Back:
RPGA Studio, Inc.
Sometimes it feels as if life's about the balance of giving and receiving. Tessa's family, friends, and community continue to teach her this. She has always wanted to volunteer for non-profit organizations and this happened when she was asked to be a founding member of the Board of Directors of Rego Park Green Alliance (RPGA Studio, Inc.), a non-profit based in Queens. The organization seeks ways to benefit the community of Queens with art and social interaction. The Queens Art Intervention (QAI), the Store-Front Mural Project, and Women Who Build - Artists Who Own are some of the projects that Tessa has helped with. For more information please visit: regoparkgreenalliance.org
Long Island City Artists (LIC-A)
Tessa Kennedy is also a proud member of the Board of Directors at LIC-A. She has donated countless hours to help organize and curate art exhibitions for LIC-A, including "Over the Bridge III" in Chelsea, and numerous shows at The Plaxall Gallery in Long Island City, NY (LIC), including "Walk with Light" for their 7th annual LIC Arts Open festival exhibit; the show featured neon light artist Kenny Greenberg, and the opening reception had a performance of light and music with Emmy Award winning musician J. Walter Hawkes and Pat Irwin of the B-52's, in conjunction with Kenny's lights. Tessa also curates a horror art show for LIC-A with Jason Artiga. For more info visit: licartists.org/licfear
The Plaxall Gallery
5-25 46th AVE
LIC, NY 11101
Gallery Hours:
Thursdays, 6-10pm [7-10pm Draw from Life workshop. Live nude model. $10 ($5 for LIC-A members)]
Saturdays and Sundays, 12-5pm
LIC Artists, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit arts advocacy organization founded by artists and incorporated in 1986 in Long Island City. For more information please visit: LICArtists.org and @licartists
LIC Arts Open
Long Island City remains a supportive community for Tessa, as she has also donated her time to LIC Arts Open. She helped coordinate and curate the 7th and 8th Annual LIC Arts Open festivals. She also curated exhibitions at The LIC Arts Open Gallery at The Factory in LIC, including a show with Macy's titled "Magic After Hours".
The LIC Arts Open Gallery at The Factory
30-30 47th AVE
LIC, NY 11101
Gallery Hours:
Daily, 9am-9pm
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