Education

                  2012      BA Studio Arts, University of New Mexico, Abq, NM (Focus: oil painting and lithography)

 

 

Exhibitions/ Events

                   

                 

                   2024           

                                Home, Sweet Home Gallery Pop-up curated by Kijibae, Social on Main, Elizabethtown, KY    

                                Gallopalooza, sponsor Councilwoman Jennifer Chappell, Brightside Foundation, Louisville, KY

                                Aurora Gallery & Boutique, Made You a Mixed Tape Group Exhibition, Louisville, KY

                   2023     

                                Multicultural mural at Chestnut Hall, Jefferson Community + Technical College, Louisville, KY

                                LVA Art Squared Auction, Louisville, KY

                                Art installation for Papertrail: Works on paper show,  Carbon Copy Gallery, Louisville, KY

                                Aurora Gallery & Boutique, Made You a Mixed Tape Group Exhibition, Louisville, KY

                  

                  2022     LVA Art Squared Auction, Louisville, KY

                 

                  2021   

                                Imagine Mural Festival Muhammad Ali mural at 621 W Main Street, Louisville, KY

                                LVA Art Squared Auction, featured artist wall, group exhibition, Louisville, KY 

                                LVA Studio Tour, Louisville, KY

                  2020 

                                Mural sited in Hartford Plaza at Jefferson Community + Technical College, Louisville, KY

                                HOBA House First Annual Print Exchange, Louisville, KY                    

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                  2019    

                                Toy Show group exhibition curated by Shawn Turung and Augustine Romero at Exhibit 208, Abq, NM

                                Field Murals at the Valle De Oro National Wildlife Refuge in partner with 516 Arts Species in Peril Along the Rio Grande, Abq, NM

                                UNM Resilience Colloquium art/ research collaborative with environmental engineer Cherie De Vore, Ph.D. candidate, Abq, NM

                                Arts Crawl First Friday pop-up at Boese Brother's Brewery, Abq, NM

                                Uncomfortable Foods for Uncomfortable Topics, performance dinner for BEDTalks event, GRAFT collective, Philadelphia, PA

                                There Must Be Other Names for the River, Marisa Demarco, Dylan McLaughlin, and Jessica Zeglin, UNM Art Museum, Abq, NM

                   

                  2018  

                                Bunting Plastic Bags collaborative site-specific public art installation with GRAFT collective for Somos 2nd Annual event, Abq, NM

                                Group exhibition Tocando Todo with guest curator and artist Christian Gallegos at Luanem Gallery, Menaul School, Abq, NM

                                We Are This City: Stars Gotta Land Somewhere group exhibition in the Great Hall at the Albuquerque Sunport, Abq, NM

                                Sh*tty Infinity collective installation at Graft Gallery, Abq, NM

                                Because It's Time: Unraveling Race and Place at the National Hispanic Cultural Center Museum, Abq, NM 

                                FUN-A-DAY group exhibition at Graft Gallery, Abq, NM

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                  2017   

                                Near Death Experience, a group death-themed art exhibition at Graft Gallery, Abq, NM

                                Solo Exhibition at Zendo Coffee, Abq, NM

                                Salvage Memory Hotline collaborative site-specific public art installation with GRAFT collective for Somos 1st Annual event, Abq, NM

                                Day 2 Cruise Control, a transit-themed art show featuring touring cars at Momazozo in Carrizozo, NM

                                Day 1 Cruise Control, a transit-themed art show featuring touring cars during AHA Festival Santa Fe, NM

                                Artists on the Rise group art exhibition curated by Regina Held at the New Mexico Cancer Foundation, Abq, NM

                                Family Styles curated by J.P. Eaglin group art exhibition at Downtown Contemporary, Abq, NM

                                Limited Edition Pint Glass Release and a solo exhibition at Tractor Brewing at Wells Park, Abq, NM

                                Intergalactic Ambassadors, Anderson-Abruzzo international Balloon Museum, Abq, NM

                                Clearance! Clearance! Clearance! group exhibition, Graft Gallery, Abq, NM

                                A Map of My Own: group art exhibition, African American Performing Arts Gallery, Abq, NM

                                Surreal Salon 9, juried by Greg Simkins aka "Craola”, Baton Rouge Gallery, Baton Rouge,  LA

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                  2016

                                We Are This City: group collaborative art exhibition, Abq, NM

                                Juncture; group art exhibition at Downtown Contemporary, Abq, NM

                                All Kinds Festival: Graft collaborative art installation  "Home + Garden", Abq, NM

                                Q + A: group art exhibition at Freestyle Gallery, Abq, NM

                                Pacific Exhibits, Art installation "Offerings", Abq, NM

                                NM/AZ Connection 2016 Annual Art exhibition”, El Chante Gallery, Abq, NM

                                Go Figure” group art exhibition at Downtown Contemporary, Abq, NM

                                New Cartography” group art exhibition/ Scavenger Hunt at Graft Gallery, Abq, NM

                                Artist of the Month at Tractor Brewery (Nobhill) Abq, NM                               

                                Rise of the Machines” group art show at Kings Kreaction Tattoo Shop, Abq, NM

                                The Contemporary Figure in Painting: group art exhibition at Matrix Fine Art Gallery, Abq, NM

                                Salvage Vessel by Graft Collective at the Anderson-Abrusso Abq Balloon Museum, Abq, NM

                                The Likeness of Us: Art exhibition at the African American Performing Arts Gallery, Abq, NM

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                  2015

                                Holiday Art Thing: group exhibition at King' Kreation Tattoo Shop, Abq, NM

                                Sh*tty Sea World: collective installation at Graft Gallery and Small Engine Gallery, Abq, NM

                                I've Seen Some Things: group exhibition at King's Kreation Tattoo Shop, Abq, NM

                                How to Have a Good Time: group exhibition at Small Engine Gallery, Abq, NM

                                24 Hours of Art at Civic Plaza, Abq, NM

                                Envelope: Time and Space solo installation at Graft Gallery, Abq, NM

                                NM/AZ Connection 2015 Annual Art group exhibition, El Chante Gallery, Abq, NM

                                30 Under 30: group art exhibition at Santa Fe Community Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

                                Artist of the Month at Winning Coffee, Abq, NM

                                Studio Sale at 516 Arts, Abq, NM

                                Grand opening of Graft art space hosting FUN-A-DAY, Abq, NM

 

                     2014

                              

                                Art Fight Round 2 Holiday edition at Red Door Brewing Co., Abq, NM

                                Holy Sh*t: group exhibition at 5G Factory on 5th, Abq, NM

                                Art booth at 5G gallery on 5th during Sunday Chatter, Abq, NM

                                Stranger Factory annual "Winter Salon IV" group exhibition, Abq, NM

                                Stranger Factory annual "Bewitching IV" group exhibition, Abq, NM

                                Muerte: group exhibition, at Tractor Brewery in Nobhill, Abq, NM

                                Spookeyish/ Creatury: group exhibition, at Winning Coffee, Abq, NM

                                Solo exhibition at Satellite on Harvard Dr. across from University of New Mexico, Abq, NM

                                24 Hours of Art at RailYards, Abq, NM

                                Art booth at Urban Outfitters in Nobhill's annual Summerfest, Abq, NM

                                Less Clothes, More Fun Clothing Reception + Rudest Priest: hosted by Tannex, Abq, NM

                                One x One x 100": Nobhill Satellite Cafe Community group exhibition Abq, NM

                                Harwood Art Center "Surface: Emerging Artist Exhibition" group exhibition Abq, NM

                                Farina's Pizzeria Month of May solo art exhibition, Abq, NM

                                Arts Fandango: Ernest Garcia Emerging Artist Scholarship: hosted by CNM at SCA, Abq, NM

                                5th Annual People's Art Show: group exhibition, 5Gallery, Abq, NM

                                Art booth at Dirty Valentine’s Day show: hosted by the Tannex, Abq, NM

                                Valentine's Day group exhibition, at Downtown Contemporary, Abq, NM

                   

                  2013  

                                4th Annual Holiday Exhibition hosted by Rhett Lynch, Abq, NM

                                Art Bar: hosted by The Residence, a local residential estate, Abq, NM

                                Nobhill Satellite Cafe Community solo show, Abq, NM

                                4th Annual People's Art Show, 5Gallery, Abq, NM

                   

                  2012  

                                18th Annual UNM Print Sale, University of New Mexico, Abq, NM

                                Confluence: Works by Jessica Chao and Zane White, Griffin, and Mandeville, Abq, NM

                                Collective Dreams: Prints & Memories, Chicago Art Department, Chicago, IL

                                Grand Opening of Griffin and Mandeville: Purveyors of Contemporary Art Gallery, Abq, NM

                                3rd Annual People’s Art Show, 5Gallery, Abq, NM

                                Con.Fusion: group V-Day-themed art exhibition, Downtown Contemporary Gallery, Abq, NM

 

                  2011   

                                Artist Network Night, Hydra Gallery, Abq, NM

                                17th Annual UNM Print Sale, University of New Mexico, Abq, NM

                                48th Annual ASUNM Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair, UNM, Abq, NM

                                Wintry Wonderland Arts & Crafts Bazaar, Studio Broadway Arts, Abq, NM

                                Starving Artist Showcase, Abq, NM

                                2nd Annual People’s Art Show, 5Gallery, Abq, NM

                                ARTiculation, Harwood Art Center, Abq, NM

                                Backyard Art Show, Abq, NM

 

                  2010  

                                Drawing Student Exhibition, CNM Community College, Abq, NM

                   

                  2009   

                                Sculpture Student Exhibition, John Sommers Gallery, Abq, NM

 

Projects

                  2019      BEDTalks event with GRAFT collective at Vox Populi art space, Philadelphia, PA

                  2017      Commissioned painting for independent film "High Way"

                  2017      Lifetime Movie “One Small Indiscretion” artwork corresponding to the character “Elle”, Abq, NM

                  2016      Collaborative sculpture garden with GRAFT collective for All Kinds Festival, Abq, NM

                  2016      Collaborative Salvage Vessel project launched during Women in Creativity Month, Abq, NM  

                  2012      The Man App series by Lotus Eye Productions, leasing of original artwork, Abq, NM

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Lectures/ Workshops/ Speaking Engagements 

                   

                  2021      Artebella On the Radio featuring LVA Open Studio Weekend, Interview with Keith S. Waits,

                                Link:

                                https://www.louisvillevisualart.org/artebella/2021/3/31/artebella-on-the-radio-april-1

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                  2018           

                                National Hispanic Cultural Center ¡HAH! Happy Arte Hour featured artist workshop, Abq, NM

                                Harwood Art Center Surface Development workshop guest/ alumni artist panelist

                   

                  2017      Harwood Art Center Surface Development workshop guest/ alumni artist panelist

                  2015      Led workshop Exploration: New Approach with Panpastel and Claybord August 15th, 2015 at Artisan Santa Fe Inc., Santa Fe, NM 

                   

                  2011   

                                Central New Mexico Community College, Art Career Concerns, Abq, NM

                                Private Instructor for a  drawing program, Abq, NM

                   

                  2009.    Zia Elementary School outreach program with printmaking class led by UNM College of Fine Arts professor Yoshiko Shimano, Abq, NM

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Experience

                   

                 2022  

                                Printed Zine Judge panelist for Edition II  

                                Portland Museum Judge panelist for Critters of the Ohio juried art competition, Louisville, KY

                  2016  

                                Co-curator for Q + A: group art exhibition at Freestyle Gallery, Abq, NM

                                Judge for Adobe Creative Jams at Harwood Art Center, Abq, NM

                   

                  2015      Founding member of GRAFT art collective, Abq, NM

                  2011      Gallery assistant at Griffin and Mandeville Contemporary Arts Gallery, Abq, NM

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Awards/ Grants

                   

                  2020     Residency program with GRAFT collective, CiCA Practitioners in Remote Residence, Concordia University 

                  2019     Support fund for Field Mural Projects at the Valle De Oro Wildlife Refuge, Abq, NM

                  2018     Selected for 2nd Annual Somos ABQ cultural arts program with GRAFT collective, Abq, NM

                    

                  2017  

                                Granted Fulcrum Fund from 516 Arts nonprofit organization with GRAFT collective Abq, NM

                                Selected for 1st Annual Somos ABQ cultural arts program with GRAFT collective, Abq, NM

                                Received "Curator's Choice" award at the New Mexico Cancer Foundation Center by Regina Held, curator of "Artists on the Rise"

                   

                  2014.     Surface Emerging Artist Exhibition Honorarium, Abq, NM

                  2013     "Artist of the Month" for the May 2013 edition of Artisan Art Supply Inc. internet newsletter

                  2006    La Cueva High School, Best Artist of the Senior Class Superlatives, Abq, NM

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Publications/ Featured

                   

                 2024.      Article in Leo Weekly, “Diversity Is A Front-Runner At Gallopalooza 2024: Local artists shine a light on the historically overlooked residents of

                                Derby City.”By Aria Baci. Link: https://www.leoweekly.com/arts/gallopalooza-2024-16128621

                 

                  2019     Article in Assist News Service written by Brian Nixon featuring the muralists at Valle De Oro

                                Link:

                                https://www.assistnews.net/tag/jessica-chao/

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                  2019     Featured in program guide "Species in Peril Along the Rio Grande", page 12,  Field Murals & Poetry at the Refuge.

                                Link:

                                https://www.516arts.org/assets/documents/Species_in_Peril_Guide_FINAL_web_spreads.pdf

                   

                   2018    National Hispanic Cultural Center Museum Catalog Because It's Time: Unraveling Race and Place in New Mexico                    

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                   2017    Local weekly newspaper, Abili, presented the article The Gallery on Gold written by Maggie Grimason.  The article highlights 

                                Pacific Exhibits, the window front art space supported in part by Central Features Contemporary Art.   

                                Link:

                                https://alibi.com/art/53833/The-Gallery-on-Gold.html                

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                    2014   In September 2014, Jessica Chao was featured in Style No Chaser, an online men's lifestyle     

                                magazine that highlights the significance of fashion and art in our modern-day world.  Writer  

                                Anthony Hagan interviewed Jessica Chao to discuss her style, process, and inspirations. Noting  

                                that her work is both "whimsical" and "humorous", Jessica responded in great detail about her  

                                conceptual narratives. 

                                Expired Link:

                                http://www.stylenochaser.com/article/developing-concepts-and-narratives-with-jessica-chao