Jen Ray (American, b.1970)
Untitled, 2008
Limited edition inkjet print
23 7/8 x 31 1/2 in.
Gallery Purchase Fund.
Having interned in the gallery for the past four years, I’ve been a part of countless exhibitions. When I think of the most exciting exhibitions, I immediately recall Jen Ray’s Surrounded by Wolves. I remember the exhibition opening, both raucous and elegant, featured student performers and lots of glitter.
Ray was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, grew up in South Carolina, and currently lives and works in NYC. Her work has been exhibited internationally at such venues as the Kasseler Kunstverein, Germany, Kunsthal KAdE, Netherlands, and the Petit Palais, France, as well as venues in New York and Los Angeles. She is represented by Wentrup Gallery, Berlin, Germany, and Alberta Benda Gallery, New York.
I recently attended a Zoom call hosted by Lia Newman, where she interviewed Jen Ray about her artistic inspiration, past works, and the creativity in the time of Covid-19. Ray spoke about Pat Cuneo, the woman who inspired Surrounded by Wolves. Ray met Cuneo as a child and was immediately captivated by Cuneo’s journey from circus-life in England, to a failed marriage with a Chicago millionaire, to the mountains of North Carolina with her partner, Myra Crabtree (where Ray and Cuneo met). The Surrounded by Wolves exhibition paid tribute to Cuneo’s life and incorporated Ray’s signature femme, post-apocalyptic aesthetic. Works like this one (Untitled, 2008) encapsulate Jen Ray’s distinct vision of an all-woman utopia with miniature female figures traversing masses of rubble. She constructs these environments using intricate detail and vivid washes of color. The women warriors wield spears while cloaked in pelts of fur. If you look closely, you’ll notice a procession of masked figures driving cars outfitted with guns and sirens. Her illustrations emit the same noise and assume the same choreographed form as her performances.
In addition to being a talented artist, Ray is an incredibly kind individual. She invited the senior studio art majors to her New York City home back in October. Her continued engagement with the Davidson community is incredibly meaningful and appreciated!
Rebecca Pempek ‘20