The Human Body and Architecture

Former Studios Inc. artist-in-residence Jill Downen is a local Kansas City artist and educator. Spending decades painting and printmaking, their practice evolved to allow sculpture and site-responsive installation. Materials commonly found within Downen’s pieces are plaster and concrete, as they are able to convey subtle textures. Within their work, Downen is interested in the relationship between the body and architecture. The artist moves non-linearly between mediums and views their studio as a place to take risks.

Downen is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Sculpture Department at the Kansas City Art Institute. They received their BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute and received their MFA from Washington University in St. Louis, where they are also a Danforth Scholar. Jill is also a recipient of several awards including the Charlotte Street Foundation Visual Artists Award.

Jill’s upcoming exhibition at Charlotte Street titled Reflecting the City, will be in collaboration with artist Corey Antis. Through a series of workshops, they invite local artists to collaborate and investigate the city, along with exploring how we approach our environments. This will be done through utilizing drawing methods, brick making, and the art of gold leaf. The workshops will run from March 2-23, with the final exhibition on view from March 29-May 4. 

When speaking about the exhibition, Jill says, “The built environment acts as an extension of the embodied experience. My hope for the exhibition is for the public to experience a collective view of the city with a sense of touch. Together with Corey, the community, and the team at CSF, I hope we can make time and space for reflection.”

For more information about Downen’s upcoming exhibition and workshops, go to https://charlottestreet.org/exhibition/reflecting-the-city/.