Jennifer Packer's 'Tenderheaded' Exhibition at Renaissance Society Explores Human Portraiture and Grief

Jennifer Packer's first solo institutional exhibition, 'Tenderheaded,' opens at the Renaissance Society in Chicago from September 9 to November 5, 2017. The New York-based painter presents new and recent works focusing on human relationships through portraits and still lifes. In a conversation with Lee Ann Norman, Packer discusses her artistic journey, beginning with her birth in Philadelphia and education at Tyler School of Art. She credits professor Stanley Whitney with pushing her to study in Rome in 2006, where experiences of racism and isolation profoundly impacted her. Viewing Caravaggio's paintings in Rome provided a transformative connection, inspiring her to create art that might similarly affect others. Packer describes her shift from a rigid, private studio practice toward more flexible exploration, influenced by seeing Nicole Eisenman's work. She addresses painting as a language for processing emotional experiences, including grief over Sandra Bland's death, which informed a floral still life. The artist emphasizes painting 'humans' rather than mere figures, seeking to portray personal relationships without harm. Her current workspace is in the Bronx, and she maintains journals to hold herself accountable to her vision.