Prominent Artist and Curator Jenni Crain Passes Away at 30 Due to Covid-19 Complications
The Rise and Shining Legacy of Jenni Crain: A Multitasking, New York-Based Artistic Phenom
In hearts and minds across the art world, a brilliant star shines ever so faintly: the unforgettable Jenni Crain, a young prodigy who graced the New York scene with an exquisite tapestry of talent—as an artist, curator, and dealer. The tragic loss looms over us, with news of her sudden demise, due to severe Covid complications, at the tender age of 30.
Gordon Robichaux, her esteemed gallery, broke the heart-wrenching news on December 16th, 20--. This news resonates deeply within the art community, as Jenni's reach embraced galleries, institutions, and her own exclusive studio. Her curatorial endeavors were primarily focused on elevating the legacies of women artists, shining a confrontational yet comforting light on their artistic brilliance.
Take, for instance, the exhibition she arranged for Midway Contemporary Art gallery in Minneapolis, celebrating the enigmatic Tee A. Corinne, who had captured the essence of women in various romantic and sexual states through her solarized photographs. Or, her forthcoming text for the Carnegie International exhibition, centering on the groundbreaking feminist writer, Kate Millett, highlighting her powerful critique of the patriarchy and power structures.
Her artistic prowess extended to her sculptures, which seemed to defy the norms of classical decorum or functional furniture, inviting viewers to rethink their surroundings. She showcased her work—often sleek, minimal, and perturbing—at numerous venues, including 321 Gallery, Baba Yaga, and her very own Gordon Robichaux. Exhibitions lined up for 2022 at Gordon Robichaux and Kerry Schuss gallery, stood as testaments to her meteoric rise in the art world.
Born in the heart of New York in 1991, Jenni Crain seized every opportunity to flex her creative muscle. The world took notice of her potential when she became a curatorial fellow at the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts in 2020. Her star continued to ascend as she graduated with her M.A. in Curatorial Studies from the prestigious CCS Bard in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, in 2021. During her tenure, she had displayed great promise with her brilliant thesis project on Kate Millett.
Jenni's journey in the world of art was marked by her stint at running various art spaces and galleries. With Brent Birnbaum, she founded Topless, a boundary-pushing Beach gallery in Rockaway, which she ran from 2014 until 2016. In the following years, she held directorial positions at Kaufmann Repetto gallery and, more recently, at Miguel Abreu Gallery, both based in New York City.
Jenni formed unbreakable bonds with those she encountered on her artistic journey, captivating them with her radiant joy, generosity, and kindness. Her nurturing spirit, unwavering intelligence, and boundless energy shall be remembered by those who were fortunate enough to cross her path.
Gordon Robichaux released a heartfelt statement upon her passing, "She will be missed by all who knew her," they wrote, reflecting the immense grief felt within the community.
Now, as her light slowly fades, the Jenni Crain Foundation was set up to protect her enduring legacy. This initiative shall foster impactful projects undertaken by artists, curators, and writers, ensuring that her influence continues to resonate far beyond her time.
Jenni Crain's life and work will never be forgotten. Her delicate, minimalist touch in art embodied a profound connection with the world around her, one that stirs the soul and epitomizes the integrity and generosity innate to her artistic spirit. She shall forever be celebrated as a beacon who shone her light on the lives of countless emerging talents, etching an indelible mark on the New York arts scene and beyond.
- Jenni Crain, the acclaimed artist and curator, arranged an exhibition at Midway Contemporary Art gallery in Minneapolis, showcasing Tee A. Corinne's solarized photographs, highlighting women in romantic and sexual states.
- Beyond her role as an artist, Jenni Crain was set to write a text for the Carnegie International exhibition, focusing on the feminist writer, Kate Millett, and her powerful critique of patriarchy and power structures.
- Jenni Crain's artistic expressions extended to sculptures, often minimal, sleek, and challenging, displayed at venues like 321 Gallery, Baba Yaga, and her own gallery, Gordon Robichaux.
- In remembrance of Jenni Crain's meteoric rise in the art world, exhibitions were planned for 2022 at Gordon Robichaux and Kerry Schuss gallery, testifying to her spectacular impact on contemporary art.
