Biography
Jordan Keyes (b. 1999) is a Chicago-based artist working with photography, fibers and artist’s books. Jordan received her BFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2021. She examines the body, personal experiences, and familial relationships to question notions of self. Keyes was awarded the Fred Endsley Memorial Fellowship, the Contemporary Practices Scholarship, and the Outstanding New Artist Award. Her work has been exhibited at Mana Contemporary (IL, 2022), Fulton Street Collective (IL, 2022), The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (IL, 2021), Joan Flasch Artist Book Collection (IL, 2021), The Center for the Arts Bonita Springs (FL, 2018), and Naples Art Association (FL, 2018).
Artist Statement
In my work, I explore themes of the Self using photography and text in an attempt to understand my current existence. Self portraiture functions as a visual form that looks at the physical body to explore ideas of identity and personal history. In composing these images, I isolate the body to bring attention to the physical form. Text, on the other hand, is woven through my photographs to contextualize the inner self. They are often in the form of free-writing journal entries that seek to dissect and study my own subconscious. Text successfully conveys detailed information compared to images and ultimately broadens how we read photographs. By placing these texts within my work, I am able to further the narrative created between the two formats.
I investigate the connection between the physical body and its internal consciousness. Particularly, I am curious about the various identities that make up our whole Self and how perception informs our relationship to the physical body. My self portraits reveal the complicated relationship between the photographer and the model and during production, it becomes a dance between the camera, myself, and the space that I am in. The actual process of shooting is very emotionally charged, with the camera acting as a disembodied set of eyes. The camera manages to intensify my awareness of the self and my body.
With my interest in people’s perception of the Self, the structure of the final form must reflect these ideas. When my work is presented to an audience, a book is the ideal format because it creates an intimate connection between the viewer and the images. Not only can they touch, hold, move, and flip through it, the book becomes a manifestation of the physical body. This format allows for a heightened connection between myself, the work, and the audience as to elicit an emotional response and reflection on their own Self.
CV
Born 1999, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Lives/Works in Chicago, IL
Education
2018-21 Bachelor of Fine Arts, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Awards
2021 Fred Endsley Memorial Fellowship
2018-21 Honors Merit Scholarship, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
2018-19 Contemporary Practices Scholarship, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
2018 Outstanding New Artist Award, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Marilyn R. Lightner Scholarship, Center for the Arts
Public's Favorite Piece, Naples Florida Chalk Art Downtown
2016 First Place Sculpture award, Quad City Arts Festival of Trees
Professional Experience
2022- Studio Assistant, Various Artists (Aimee Beaubien, Ellen Rothenberg), Chicago, IL
2021 Collections Assistant, Roger Brown Study Collection, Chicago, IL
2020 Collections Assistant, Randolph St Gallery Archives, Chicago, IL
Photography Intern, Chicago Corporate Photography and Video, Chicago, IL
2018- Freelance Photographer, Chicago, IL
2016-17 Gallery Assistant, Pleasant Valley Highschool, Bettendorf, IA
Group Exhibitions
2022 TBD Group Exhibition, Mana Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL
Art Inspired by Artists, Fulton Street Collection, Chicago, IL
2021 SAIC Senior Undergraduate Exhibition, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Display Case Exhibition, Joan Flasch Artist Book Collection, Chicago, IL
2020-21 Making It, School of the Art Institute of Chicago Wellness Center, Chicago, IL
2019 ArtBash, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2018 Early College Program Final Exhibition, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
The Center for the Arts, Bonita Springs, Fl
Artis Naples, Naples, FL
Naples Art Association, Naples, FL
2017 Early College Program Final Exhibition, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2016 Festival of Trees, Quad City Arts, Rock Island, IL
Bibliography
2022 SAIC On View Instagram feature, Chicago, IL
Collections
Joan Flasch Artist Book Collection, Chicago, IL