Biography
Jena Campbell is a fine artist living in Haddon Township, NJ. 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 was inspired by her work in Tanzania and 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 then began working as an Adoption Worker for foster children in Philadelphia. 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 in her Haddon Township studio while continuing to exhibit throughout Pennsylvania. She has also remained in her position as an Adoption Worker and has kept in touch with many of her girls in Tanzania. Jena is also currently studying energy work to help spiritually guide others. Jena’s goal in life is to make a difference by helping people in any capacity. Each day she works to fulfill her goal and each aspect of her life helps her get there.
Education
- University of Pennsylvania — BFA 2008
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts — Certificate Graduate 2004
Exhibitions
- 2012
- Art of State Exhibition — Harrisburg, PA
- Harrisburg Symphony Showhouse; IWS Design Group Inc. commissioned artist — Camp Hill, PA
- 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