April 22nd marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day, and @galleriadallas is recognizing this with a celebration lasting nearly a whole month. In conjunction with renewable energy retailer @octopusenergyus the center presents a celebration of Earth Day 2021 in partnership with @earthxorg . The exhibit is designed to educate the public on the current environmental state of the planet, the effects of climate change on humanity and the power that individual people possess to make a positive and coll
Porch Monkeys Set of 7 Mixed Media 2018-2020 Porch Monkeys is a documentation of racial hate that happens around the world. Each banana is named after a professional athlete who has had a banana thrown at them during a professional sporting event or had monkey chants made at them. “[T]he blatantly racist act — synonymous with treating players as apes or monkeys”, states Richard Evans, The Advertiser. Each banana is uniquely different and has the name of a soccer player along with the year the b
April 22nd marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day, and @galleriadallas is recognizing this with a celebration lasting nearly a whole month. In conjunction with renewable energy retailer @octopusenergyus the center presents a celebration of Earth Day 2021 in partnership with @earthxorg . The exhibit is designed to educate the public on the current environmental state of the planet, the effects of climate change on humanity and the power that individual people possess to make a positive and coll
Jessica Bell is a contemporary sculptor and socially engaged artist. Focused on using traditional techniques mixed with contemporary designs, Bell’s work addresses race, identity, and social issues. Bell uses smaller units to construct larger works and installations.
Bell's work employs playful iconography and everyday – typically innocuous – items to lure the viewer into a closer examination and then deeper understanding of the messages embedded in her art. Bell’s work is visually arresting, playful, and sumptuous in its use of materiality.
Bell is a recipient of the Red Bull Artist Grant, Priscilla Art Award, Juanita Craft Artist Residency, along with several municipal artist grants over the course of her career. Bell has participated in an artist talk at the Dallas Museum of Art and taught workshops at the Dallas Contemporary. Working in the public and private sector, Bell’s work is in private collections including UT Southwestern Medical Center, Amli Fountain Place Dallas, and soon to be installed at Eastern New Mexico University, and Emory Hospital.
Bell holds a Master of Science in Education with a concentration in Ceramics and Curriculum Writing, a Bachelor in Art Education and Fine Arts degree, and certifications in Graphic Design and Welding. Additionally, Bell is the sculptor professor for Booker T. Washington School of the Performing and Visual Arts. Her work has been shown in a variety of galleries, and she has presented her work as a national leader in art education in urban environments at conferences across the country.