About

Bio

Jennifer’s art began to form out of the rural Canadian prairie of her childhood and the suburban cityscape of her youth. She has always lived inland but is especially moved by the mystery of the sea. Fanciful imaginary scenes, social commentary, faith, and expressionist landscapes are all part of the imagery that connects with and emerges from her work. She often uses metaphor, allegory, motif and archetype to proclaim belief in new, imaginative ways. While the subjects in her artwork may be diverse, the use of dramatic color contrasts and black outlines are constants. Comic books and graphic novels use black outline and basic blocks of color to create imaginary worlds; Jennifer was impressed as a child by the lush yet simple landscapes in the Tintin comic books by artist Hergé. Her favorite artist, the German Expressionist Karl Schmitt-Rotluff, uses similar bold color and black outlines in his woodcuts and paintings.

Artist / Personal Statement

Upon first glance you will see dramatic color contrasts and vibrant hues; these are the influence of German Expressionist paintings and woodcuts, and of Comic Book art. I love many media including watercolor, woodcut, acrylic, and ink. My aim when making art is to produce something new and worthy of a second look. In some cases, an explanation enhances the work, but it is important to me to make art that is interesting to contemplate even without the explanation. I feel called to use my own unique style to tell these stories, illustrating critical ideas in fresh, innovative ways.

My approach to art has been inspired by two exceptional books: Art in Action by Nicholas Wolterstorff and Liturgy as a Way of Life by Bruce Ellis Benson. Wolterstorff's principles in making art include: responsibility and mindfulness while choosing what art to make and why; integrating art into life and my belief system; realizing that, while art in itself cannot provide the meaning of human existence, my art can be a service to myself, others, and to God. Wolterstorff labels the act of experiencing art as aesthetic contemplation. This view interests me as I follow my own collection of themes because my aim in making art is to produce something new and worthy of aesthetic contemplation. I admire Bruce Benson’s suggestion that, as an artist continues to develop skill, meaning and purpose, the artist becomes a more mindful, more whole person in the process. Benson’s expression is a worthy goal to strive for, whatever a person’s vocation may be.

Education

•University of Missouri-Columbia BFA, Painting, Printmaking 1992 – 1997
•Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute Certificate of Theological Studies 1990 – 1992

Always Try to Learn More

•Adobe Illustrator Essentials; Bring Your Own Laptop 2024

•Artists and Writers Workshop; Fort Collins, Colorado, Summer 2014

•United Adoration Songwriters' Retreat; Oak Park, Illinois, September 2014

•Ruminate Writer's Retreat; Fort Collins, Colorado, Fall 2012 (description)

•"All About Pens" Kelley Kilmer Workshop; LaPorte, Colorado, 2012

•Transforming Culture; Austin, Texas, 2008 (description)

•Watercolor, Trinidad State Junior College; Trinidad, Colorado 2005

Shows, Awards, Memberships

2026 Summer: Inclusion of "Travel Notes 2022" and "Travel Notes 2023" in Atlantic Gallery's Graphically Speaking: the Art of Storytelling, New York, New York.
2026 June: Inclusion of "Slipstream," "Upward Journey II," and "Crann Bethadh II" in the Rhythms of Grace exhibit at Emmaus Road Church in Fort Collins, Colorado
2026 February-June: Featured in Rooted and Faithful exhibit at Bridge Church in Lakewood, Colorado
2025 Fall: Inclusion of "Becoming" and "Golden Mean River IV" in juried group exhibit at Grace Commons Church in Boulder, Colorado
2025 February: Inclusion of "Here I Sit (musician)" and "Here I sit (fisherman)" in the juried exhibit "Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover" at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod, South Yarmouth, Massachusetts
2024 Winter: Inclusion of "O Radix" in juried group exhibit at Grace Commons Church in Boulder, Colorado
2024 Summer: Inclusion of "Le Capitaine Se Souvient" and "Golden Mean River III" in Coos Art Museum 30th Annual Maritime Juried Art Exhibit, Coos Bay, Oregon
2024 April-July: Inclusion of "Crann Bethadh" and "Strivers" (pentaptych) in juried group exhibit at Grace Commons Church in Boulder, Colorado
2024 March: Inclusion of "Crann Bethadh" and "Strivers" (pentaptych) in juried group exhibit Human at Bitfactory gallery, Denver, Colorado
2023 Fall: Inclusion of "Prepare Ye the Way" in Trinity Juried Exhibition, Sacramento, California
2023 Fall: Inclusion of "Faith,Hope,Love" and "Retablo 2" in group exhibit at Grace Commons Church in Boulder, Colorado
2023 August: Inclusion of "The Sower" and "He Will Swallow Up Death Forever" in group exhibit at First Christian Church Loveland, Colorado
2023 May: Inclusion of "Here I Sit" triptych in group exhibit at Grace Commons Church in Boulder, Colorado
2023 May: Inclusion of "Golden Mean River II" and "He Will Swallow Up Death Forever" in group show at Bridge Church in Lakewood, Colorado
2023 March: Inclusion of "Here I Sit" triptych and "A Woman of Wisdom" in group exhibit Salt at Bitfactory gallery, Denver, Colorado
2023 March-April: Inclusion of five pieces in group exhibit at Grace Commons Church in Boulder, Colorado
2022 December: Inclusion of "Golden Mean River iv," "A Wise Mother," "He Will Swallow Up Death Forever," and "Lo, How a Rose" in group exhibit at Grace Commons Church in Boulder, Colorado
2021 December: Inclusion of "Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending" and "Annunciation" in group exhibit at Grace Commons Church in Boulder, Colorado
2021 December: Inclusion of "He Will Swallow Up Death Forever" and "Confessions" in Advent Exhibit at St Andrew Church Highlands Ranch, Colorado
2021 Fall: Inclusion of "Refuge, Psalm 46" in the Reflections on the Psalms exhibit at Bridge Gallery, Littleton, Colorado.
2021: Inclusion in Edge of Faith magazine's August Art Issue.
2021 Spring: Inclusion of "Needs" and "Small" in the Suspension juried exhibit at the Gallery at Fellowship Denver Church, Denver, Colorado.
2020 Fall: Inclusion of "Golden Mean River III" in the Deep Breath group exhibit with Christos Collective at Bridge Gallery; Littleton, Colorado.
2020 February: Included in All is Not Lost group exhibit, Back Alley Gallery, Denver
2019 Fall: Inclusion of "Golden Mean River III" in To Flourish juried art exhibit, Four Chapter Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri
2019 Fall: Inclusion of "Christ Risen" in Resurrection group art exhibit with Christos Collective Bridge Gallery; Littleton, Colorado.
2019 Summer: "Calling" group art exhibit with Christos Collective, Fellowship Denver Church, Denver
2019 Spring: "The Cross and the Resurrection" group art exhibit with Christos Collective, Four Chapter Gallery, Kansas City
2018 November - 2019 January: Inclusion of "I ♥ my phone" in Juried Exhibition at the Littleton Museum, Littleton Colorado
2018 fall: "The Fruit of the Spirit" Collaborative Collection and "Current" group art exhibit with Christos Collective, Bridge Gallery, Littleton, Colorado
2018 January - May: Inclusion of "Christ Carrying the Cross" in The Cross group art exhibit with Christos Collective, Bridge Gallery; Littleton, Colorado.
2017 summer: Included in Reclaim group art exhibit with Christos Collective at various locations in the Kansas City area including Four Chapter Gallery
2014 - Present; Member, Christos Collective; Denver, Colorado

2017 March 3 - April 3: Current group art exhibit with Christos Collective at Artwork Network Gallery in Denver, Colorado
2016-2019 Group art exhibit at Colorado Christian University Library, Lakewood, Colorado.
2016 Fall: Included in Choice, Chance, Trust group show with Christos Collective at Bridge Gallery; Littleton, Colorado
2016 December 31 - January 23rd: "Reclaim" group show with Christos Collective, Gallery Nine-Seventy, Loveland, Colorado
2015 Fall: "Reclaim" group show with Christos Collective at Bridge Gallery; Littleton Colorado
2015 May 28-June 14: "Presence" group show with Christos Collective, Core Gallery Annex; Denver
2010 Solo exhibit at Everyday Joe's Coffee shop; Fort Collins, Colorado
2008 November: "Color in a Bottle" solo show at COCOA gallery; Willow Street Fort Collins
2008 Second in Watercolor, Thompson Valley Art League; Loveland, Colorado
2006-2008 Member, COCOA, (Colorado Coalition of Artists); Fort Collins, Colorado
2005 First Place, TALAS show; Trinidad, Colorado
2001 - 2005 Member, Corazon Gallery (Co-op); Trinidad Colorado
2005 May: Solo show, Trinidad Brewing Company, Trinidad, Colorado
2003 Inclusion in "The Art of the Paper Plate" exhibit at New York Museum of Art and Design (top 100 out of 10,0000)
2002 Best of Category (Oil), TALAS show; Trinidad, Colorado

Jennifer Bunge

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