Jenna Rothstein

Jenna Rothstein is an artist based in New York City, where she works as an assistant and fabricator for various artists. She earned her BFA from the University of Michigan in 2016 and completed her MFA at Goldsmiths University of London in 2020. Her artistic journey has seen exhibitions in London, New York, Michigan, Florida, and California.

While Jenna's formal education provided her with valuable skills, she attributes much of her craft expertise to the guidance of the women who influenced her upbringing, resources like YouTube, and the support of her peers. Raised by a mother deeply engaged in crafting, Jenna learned the transformative power of creativity from an early age, often repurposing discarded items into new creations alongside her mother.

A constant and frenetic energy characterizes Jenna's studio practice. Her recent work primarily consists of figurative paintings paired with meticulously crafted sculptural frames. Drawing inspiration from moments of failure, spectacle, performance, soft power, and tragic comedy, her art explores themes of influence, gender, performance, and magic.

Central to Jenna's artistic philosophy is a desire to challenge the elitism often associated with painting as a medium and commodity. Through her fusion of figurative paintings with handmade frames, she seeks to humble the medium and provoke questions about the inherent value assigned to certain objects, ideas, and images over others.

Collect Bean: What does growth mean to you?

Jenna Rothstein: Getting bigger, smaller, dissolution, transmogrifying, like cucumbers into pickles or the other way around. It could also mean stasis but I guess not stagnation, like how my mom’s hydrangeas come back in the same spot every year. Thinking, new language that connects everything that is already there and the things that are not yet. Becoming, while trying to find mysticism in the things around.

Collect Bean: If you had to describe your work in only three words, what would they be?

Jenna Rothstein: Anxious jester stuff

Collect Bean: What does an ideal day in your studio look like?

Jenna Rothstein: Suspended time. Spiritual and willful optimism. Essential yearning.

Collect Bean: What is the kindest thing someone can tell you about your work?

Jenna Rothstein: This looks like art for dogs.

Collect Bean: Where are you currently finding inspiration?

Jenna Rothstein: Bumper stickers, trash, friendship.

Collect Bean: If you could be in a show with any artist, who would it be and why?

Jenna Rothstein: My grandma! She’s also an artist. We both make esoteric collages in our spare time.

Collect Bean: How does where you grew up influence your work?

Jenna Rothstein: I grew up in a community focused on wealth accumulation. My inner child is still scarred from

ideals pushed by systems beyond my control.

Collect Bean: What is one of your current goals as an artist?

Jenna Rothstein: I’m making a couch and I would love to finish that.

Collect Bean: How do you decide on the subject matter for a painting?

Jenna Rothstein: Usually, I paint from images I take on my phone, or sometimes images from friends. I look for images of sub-spectacle, things that are funny, sticky, weirdly displayed food that’s been out for too long.

Collect Bean: Do you have a saying that you live by?

Jenna Rothstein: Have a great summer.

Collect Bean: Tell us about a time when you felt you found your groove as an artist.

Jenna Rothstein: I won an award for some pink flowers I watercolored in 4th grade.