Jessica K.

Bridges of Becoming
Credit: Jessica K.Artist Bio

Jessica (she/her) is a third-year art therapy graduate student at Lewis and Clark. Her journey to become an art therapist has spanned almost a decade and has led her around the world. With a core belief that art can be healing and connecting, she has worked alongside children in a variety of capacities. Since moving to Oregon to pursue her Master’s degree, this has included pre-school, elementary, and middle schools around Portland. She currently practices at a nonprofit mental health agency in Vancouver, Washington called Akin. Each day since entering this field, she has learned and smiled with the children she has worked with and her passion remains steadfast to provide accessible, person-centered care. 

Artist Statement

“Shapes of Support”

By engaging in art as self-care, Jessica demonstrates her belief that art can be healing in action. With a focus on process-based mediums, “Shapes of Support” displays the way in which artwork can be used as a metaphorical and literal container of holding. Hand-built ceramic vessels adorned with prints created with objects from her school, internship, and home, the collection illustrates how the act of making can hold experience, support emotional processing, and transform ordinary objects into symbols of care.

“Bridges of Becoming”

Layers of paper and prints of mirrored figures finding their way come together as a visual metaphor for the ever-evolving professional identity as a student and clinician. The gelli-printed forms provide a visual embodiment of the way in which the two roles unify into one experience. Shifting forms reflect the interplay between who I am, who I am learning to become, and the relationships that have shaped me.