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Jessi Reaves

Jessi Reaves

Jessi Reaves is an Artist based in New York. [1]

Her work has been included in group exhibitions nationally and internationally, in venues including Team Gallery, New York; Swiss Institute New York; Herald St, London; and A Palazzo Gallery, Brescia, Italy. In 2016, Reaves presented her first solo exhibition with Bridget Donahue, New York, and she exhibited in the 2017 Whitney Biennial.

Education

She received her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence. [1]

Career

Before becoming an artist she worked part-time as an upholsterer, and now she makes sculptures that function as furniture: chairs, tables and sofas created from startling blends of foam, sawdust, plywood, plexiglass and auto parts.

Art

She customarily builds on found frames of chairs, couches, and shelves to create sculptural artworks that double as functional furniture.

From bulging, stained upholsterer’s foam to patterned and embroidered fabric, the imperfect and ornamented surfaces of Reaves’ sculptures often reimagine functionalist design and lend each object an unexpected animacy that exceeds its original use.

With her material arsenal of found objects, industrial products, fabrics, and foam, Jessi Reaves assembles objects that challenge the boundary between furniture and sculpture.

Although designed for use, her works summon a lyrical—rather than functional—association with the body.

Selected solo exhibitions

2016

  • Jessi Reaves, Bridget Donahue, New York, New York, April 10 - June 5 [1]

  • Now Showing: Jessi Reaves, Sculpture Center, Long Island City, New York, January 24 - April 4 [1]

Selected group exhibitions

2017

  • Midtown, Lever House, organized by Maccarone and Salon 94, New York, New York, May 3 - June 9 [1]

  • Ginny Casey and Jessi Reaves, Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 28 - August 6 [1]

  • Liminal Focus, Barbara Mathes Gallery, New York, New York, April 26 - June 30 [1]

  • Whitney Biennial 2017, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, New York, March 17 -June 11 Ruins in the Snow, High Art, Paris, France, February 22 - April 1 [1]

  • Looking Back/ The 11th White Columns Annual, White Columns, New York, January 14 - March 4 [1]

2016

  • A Cautionary Tale: Jessi Reaves and Bradley Kronz, A Palazzo Gallery, Brescia, Italy, December 15 - January 25 [1]

  • Dolores, Team Gallery, New York, New York, September 8 - October 9 [1]

  • Outside, Karma, Amagansett, New York, September 3 - 25 [1]

  • Gallery Share, Off Vendome, New York, New York, May 5 [1]

  • Bloody Life, Herald Street, London, England, April 24 - May 29 [1]

  • Design & Crime, Éric Hussenot, Paris, France, April 23 - June 4 [1]

  • Real Fine Arts Presents, New York, 809 Washington Street, New York, New York, March 2 - 6 [1]

  • Jessi Reaves & Sophie Stone: How to Remove Stains, Del Vaz Projects, Los Angeles, California, January 15 - April 15 [1]

2015

  • Natural Flavor, Ludlow 38, New York, New York, November 12 - December 13 [1]

  • Swiss Institute Annual Architecture and Design Series: Second Edition, ‘Pavillon De L’Esprit [2]

  • Nouveau: A 21st Century Show Home’, curated by Felix Burrichter, New York, New York, September 25 - November 8 [1]

  • Summer Group Show, Germantown, New York, curated by Matt Moravec and Taylor Trabulus, August 29 - 30 [1]

  • Panic Pant s, Essex Flowers, New York, New York, June 28 - August 2 [1]

  • Living Rooms, Old Room Gallery, New York, New York, curated by Josh Kline, February 7 - March 7 [1]

  • Paramount Ranch, Shoot the Lobster Gallery, Los Angles, California, January 31 - February 1 [1]

  • Das Gesamtsexwerk, M/L Art Space, Brooklyn, New York, January 17 [1]

2014

  • Seau Banco Carbon, Bed Stuy Love Affair Gallery, New York, New York, December 22 - January 2 [1]

  • La Casa del Cazu Merzu, Shoot the Lobster Gallery, New York, New York, September 19 - October 19 [1]

  • American Basketry, Bed Stuy Love Affair, New York, New York, August 15 - September 6 [1]

  • My Old Friend, My New Friend, My Girlfriend, My Cousin and My Mentor, Shoot the Lobster Gallery, New York, New York, curated by JPW3, May 29 - June 29 [1]

2013

  • International Contemporary Furniture Fair, New York, New York, May 18 - May 21 2012 [1]

  • International Contemporary Furniture Fair, New York, New York, May 19 - May 22 2011 [1]

  • The Denist’s Office, Golden Rule Gallery, Portland, Oregon, April 1 - May 1 [1]

References

[1]
Citation Linkbridgetdonahue-media-w2.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.comJessi's CV
Jul 24, 2017, 9:47 AM
[2]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comChair 1 & 2, 2016 [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Two chairs, cloth, driftwood, sawdust, wood glue, plastic, 38 x 27 x 22 inches (96.52 x 68.58 x 55.88 cm), photo by Constance Mensh
Jul 24, 2017, 9:56 AM
[3]
Citation Linkbridgetdonahue.nycJessi's works
Jul 24, 2017, 9:57 AM
[4]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comInstallation View [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Jessi Reaves and Ginny Casey, April 28 - August 6, 2017, Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia, photo by Constance Mensh
Jul 24, 2017, 9:58 AM
[5]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comOttoman with Parked Chair & Ottoman, 2017 [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Plywood, foam, fleece, fabric, hardware and found furniture, photo by Constance Mensh
Jul 24, 2017, 9:59 AM
[6]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comOttoman with Parked Chair & Ottoman, 2017 [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Plywood, foam, fleece, fabric, hardware and found furniture, photo by Constance Mensh
Jul 24, 2017, 9:59 AM
[7]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comInstallation View [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Jessi Reaves and Ginny Casey, April 28 - August 6, 2017, Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia, photo by Constance Mensh
Jul 24, 2017, 10:00 AM
[8]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comInstallation View [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Jessi Reaves and Ginny Casey, April 28 - August 6, 2017, Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia, photo by Constance Mensh
Jul 24, 2017, 10:00 AM
[9]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comInstallation View [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Jessi Reaves and Ginny Casey, April 28 - August 6, 2017, Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia, photo by Constance Mensh
Jul 24, 2017, 10:01 AM
[10]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comInstallation View [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Jessi Reaves and Ginny Casey, April 28 - August 6, 2017, Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia, photo by Constance Mensh
Jul 24, 2017, 10:01 AM
[11]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comInstallation View: Whitney Biennial 2017 [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, March 17 - June 11, 2017, photograph Ron Amstutz
Jul 24, 2017, 10:02 AM
[12]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comBasket Chair with Brown Pillow, 2017 [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Wood, metal, sawdust, wood glue, wicker basket, caning, cotton batting, polyester, hardware, 36 x 22 x 30 inches (91.44 x 55.88 x 76.20 cm)
Jul 24, 2017, 10:03 AM
[13]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comInstallation View: Whitney Biennial 2017 [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, March 17 - June 11, 2017, photograph Bill Orcutt
Jul 24, 2017, 10:03 AM
[14]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comInstallation View: Whitney Biennial 2017 [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, March 17 - June 11, 2017, photograph Bill Orcutt
Jul 24, 2017, 10:04 AM
[15]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comInstallation View: Whitney Biennial 2017 [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, March 17 - June 11, 2017, photograph Ben Gancsos
Jul 24, 2017, 10:05 AM
[16]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comInstallation View [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, March 17 - June 11, 2017, photograph Bill Orcutt
Jul 24, 2017, 10:07 AM
[17]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comWatertight Shelf with Zippers, 2017 [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Plywood, cedar, zippers, vinyl, waterproof seam tape, cotton batting, thread, leather, plastic, plastic mesh, sawdust wood glue, hardware, 87 x 21 x 34 inches (220.98 x 53.34 x 86.36 cm), photograph Gregory Carideo
Jul 24, 2017, 10:08 AM
[18]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comInstallation View [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 28, 2016-February 5, 2017, photograph Gregory Carideo
Jul 24, 2017, 10:08 AM
[19]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comSports Chair, 2016 [[2]](https://bridgetdonahue.nyc/artists/reaves-jessi/works)
Steel frame, polyester, cedar, studio dust, wood glue, teak, cotton/spandex, rayon, nylon, polyurethane foam, polyester batting, silk and hardware, 59 x 38 x 38 inches (149.86 x 96.52 x 96.52 cm)
Jul 24, 2017, 10:09 AM
[20]
Citation Linkywqaugeunhowzrcj.public.blob.vercel-storage.comJR074D [2]
Jul 24, 2017, 10:09 AM