Education Jill Wells was born in Indianola, Iowa. She graduated from Drake University where she received her B.F.A in painting in 2005. Over the past 12 years she has been creating public and private murals across Iowa, Arizona and New Orleans. In an article by Tiffany Westrom from the Ames Tribune she describes some of Jill Wells earlier artwork entitled “The Cotton Memoirs” – “unexpected billowing swipes of paint characterize canvases that depict the dark scenes of slave labor.” Jill said that the children in the pictures caught her attention first and foremost. Jill Wells shared that “One of the pictures used to make me cry, the shadow of the darkened eyes was just extremely compelling.” “The Cotton Memoirs,” included large painted canvas and small pencil drawings that contained replicas of old black and white photographs illuminated by color. She stylized the images, instead of wearing traditional farm clothes, the children wear special garb. One is depicted in a graduation gown, another a judicial robe — all for the purpose of giving the audience more clues so that they might do their own research. “I stressed the palette,” she said. “They were black and white originally, but color provides a soothing luxury for a situation that was extremely difficult.” Wells grew up in Iowa and was aware of the lack of diversity in her community. When she began attending Drake University, it became clear that one day each year during black history month was not nearly enough to understand her history. “The Cotton Memoirs” began as her thesis in 2003 and continued on for years as she added to the collection. For her, these pieces became a way to talk about tough things and to start the conversations that people are afraid to have. Wells continues to use art to proclaim a humbling past and real pain paired with enduring hope. As a result of the social unrest do the murder of George Floyd and others, she co-hosted several virtual conversations with artists in 2020. Jill recently participated in the first artist co-hort at Mainframe Studios. She is currently one of the local professional artists selected for the Arts Inc. hosted by the Des Moines Art Festival. Professional Accomplishments - Gallery ExhibitionsHeritage Gallery: CIML 1999; Des Moines Art Center: Ice Cream Social group exhibit 2003; The Great Frame Up: Solo exhibits 2005-2013; Iowa State University Multicultural Center: Solo exhibit 2013. Community Projects - Murals Creative Visions 1999 “Running Out of Time” (65’ x 11’); The Blank Park Zoo 2006 “Under The Sea” (62’ x 9’); YMCA Walnut Creek 2006 Pool Mural (76’ x 17’); Iowa Lutheran
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