Jessica Chao is a native New Mexican artist who earned her BFA in Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico in 2012 focusing on lithography and oil painting. Jessica has been a contributing member of the art community by participating in art shows as well as co-founding the Graft art collective formerly situated in the historic Barelas neighborhood. She exhibited in numerous shows including Harwood Art Center’s Surface Emerging Artist Showcase, 516 Art’s studio sale, and the New Mexico Cancer Center Foundation show Gallery with a Cause, where she received “Curator’s Choice” award given by curator Regina Held. 2018 marks a turn in Jessica’s career when she was invited to participate in a group exhibition Because It’s Time: Unraveling Race and Place in New Mexico held by the National Hispanic Cultural Center museum (NHCC) and curated by Jadira Gurule. At NHCC, Jessica explored large-scale installation and worked with a team to create a politically and emotionally driven piece that was much more personal than previous work. Jessica’s work consistently reflects the discipline and dedication to trying new techniques, ideas, and challenges. In the last two months, Jessica relocated to Louisville, Kentucky to pursue arts in and and around surrounding regions. “My name is Jessica Chao. I was born and raised as a first generation Asian American in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where I earned a BFA at UNM and pursued art in my community. I moved to Louisville in 2019 to be with my partner, but to also find new opportunities. Since the pandemic and civil unrest have continued to challenge our lives, I’ve never felt more alert as I’ve witnessed the culmination of this city’s persistent fight toward justice. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the voice of change.”