Jenelle Porter Explained

Jenelle Porter is an American art curator and author of numerous exhibition catalogs and essays about contemporary art and craft. She has curated important exhibitions that have helped studio craft to gain acceptance as fine arts. These include the exhibitions Dirt on Delight: Impulses That Form Clay (co-curated with Ingrid Schaffner) at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia in 2009 and Fiber: Sculpture 1960–Present at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston in 2014.^{[1] [2]}

Education

She obtained her BA in Art history from Barnard College, Columbia University in 1994, and went on to obtain an MA in Critical and Curatorial Studies from University of California, Los Angeles in 2004.^[3]

Curatorial positions

• 2015–present Independent curator, Los Angeles^[4]
• 2011–2015 Senior Curator, Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston^[5]
• 2005–11 Curator, Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia
• 1998–2001 Curator, Artists Space, New York^[6]
• 1997–98 Curatorial Fellow, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
• 1994–97Curatorial Assistant, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York

Selected exhibitions/curatorial activities

2021

Kay Sekimachi: Geometries, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, California. 2019

Less is A Bore: Maximalist Art & Design, Institute of Contemporary Art Boston

Mike Kelley: Timeless Painting, Hauser & Wirth, New York

2017

A Line Can Go Anywhere, James Cohan Gallery, New York

2016

• Beverly Center Renovation Installation Projects, in associated with the Hammer Museum. Featuring a series of installation projects by artists Catherine Opie, Liz Larner, Julian Hoeber, Geoff McFetridge, Karen Kimmel, Sharon Lockhart, Barbara Kruger, Ed Fella, Tanya Aguiñiga, Amanda Ross-Ho, Harsh Patel, Lisa Anne Auerbach, Gary Simmons, Dave Muller, and Pae White.^[7]

2015

• Erin Shirreff, ICA Boston
• Arlene Schechet: All at Once^[8]

2014

• Fiber Sculpture, 1960–present, Institute of Contemporary Art Boston
• Nick Cave
• Matthew Ritchie, Institute of Contemporary Art Boston

2013

Christina Ramberg, Institute of Contemporary Art Boston

Jeffrey Gibson, Institute of Contemporary Art Boston

Mary Reid Kelley, Institute of Contemporary Art Boston

2012

• Figuring Color: Kathy Butterfly, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Roy McMakin, Sue Williams, Institute of Contemporary Art Boston
• Dianna Molzan, Grand Tourist, Institute of Contemporary Art Boston

2011

• Jessica Jackson Hutchins, Institute of Contemporary Art Boston
• Charline von Heyl

2010

• Mineral Spirits: Anne Chu and Matthew Monahan

2009

• Dance with Camera
• Dirt on Delight: Impulses that Form Clay

2008

Trisha Donnelly, Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia

2007

Jay Heikes, Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia

2006

Gone Formalism, Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia

Reviews of exhibitions

• The 2015 show "Arlene Schechet, All at Once" is praised for "giv[ing] readers a holistic look at how her work challenges the conventions of ceramics and sculpture."^[9]

Selected publications

• Book: Pepich . Bruce . McQuaid . Matilda . Porter . Jenelle . Stapleton . Lyssa . 2016 . The Box Project: Works from the Lloyd Cotsen Collection . Los Angeles . Cotsen Occasional Press . 9780974516899 .
• Book: Hatley. Pan. Porter. Jenelle. Chaffee. Cathleen. Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Erin Shirreff. 2015. 9781887457187. art exhibition. Cathleen Chaffee.
• Book: Morineau . Camille . Pesapane . Lucia . 2015 . Ceramix: From Rodin to Schütte . Maastricht-Paris-Sèvres . 9789461612519.
• Book: Schaffner . Ingrid . Porter . Jenelle . 2009 . Dirt on Delight: Impulses That Form Clay . Philadelphia . Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Philadelphia . 9780884541172 .

Notes and References

1. News: Adamson . Glenn . Why the Art World Is Embracing Craft . 10 October 2021 . Artsy . January 13, 2020.
2. Feldman . Melissa E. . Dirt on Delight Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA . Frieze . June 2009 . 124 . 10 October 2021.
3. Web site: Curator Jenelle Porter Takes New Position at ICA Boston. Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia. 11 May 2016.
4. Web site: Innovations in Textiles 10. Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. May 11, 2016.
5. News: ICA Senior Curator Jenelle Porter's Favorite Things. Hollands. Courtney. Boston Magazine. May 2013. May 12, 2016.
6. Web site: Dr. Art on Curating: Jenelle Porter of Artists Space. Deleget. Matthew. April 9, 2008. New York Foundation for the Arts. May 12, 2016.
7. Web site: Catherine Opie, Geof McFetridge Artworks Unveiled as Part of Beverly Center Renovations. The Hollywood Reporter. 14 September 2016.
8. News: 'Arlene Shechet: All at Once,' by Jenelle Porter. Rudick. Dina. Boston Globe. July 21, 2015. May 12, 2016.
9. Web site: 'Arlene Shechet: All at Once,' by Jenelle Porter. Boston Globe. May 16, 2016.