I started taking private art lessons when I was 12 years old. I continued my art lessons throughout my adolescence, taking every art class I could. Thanks to grit, a solid foundational education from my high school and an affinity for the craft I was able to attend Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia. In college, I explored processes which led me to my niche’s oil painter, sculptor, and printmaker. I discovered my appreciation for shape, color, texture, with an emphasis on the female figure, personal experiences, and nature which led me to graduate with a Bachelors Fine Art in 2005.

In 2016 after my husband and I relocated from New Jersey to Colorado, I establish my brand Jenn Merz ColorQueen. I began to truly pursue my dream of showing my art in galleries, in 2020 my career really took off. I had my first solo exhibition “Undisguised” and have been actively showing in multiple art districts ever since. I am a member of 40 West and the Women’s Caucus for Art. My inspirations for creating come from personal experience(s), emotions, my home and places I have visited. My work consists of combining different mediums to create decadence. The minimalist approach in my work gives me the freedom to capture the true essence with simplicity. Expressing what is truly in my head and in my heart. Within that intimacy I feel extremely empowered.

Jenn Merz ColorQueen (CQ) CV

jennmerzcolorqueen@gmail.com

856-357-0329

www.jennmerzcolorqueen.com

@jennmerzcolorqueen

Denver Metro, Colorado

Education

2005 Moore College of Art & Design BFA; 2-D and 3-D Fine Art

Solo Exhibitions

2023 “Flourishing” 1101 W Mineral Ave, Littleton Colorado

2020 “Undisguised” Payge Gallery, Denver Colorado

2019 “Enlightened” Back Alley Gallery, Denver Colorado

2018 “Sculptures” Kat Payge Art, Denver Colorado

Joint Exhibitions

2022 “ROOTS & BRANCHES” with Lyndy Bush, Apex Gallery, Denver Colorado

2020 “Hydrodynamics” with Terrel Bailey, Gallery East, Denver Colorado

Selected Exhibitions

2024 "Figurative" Remain Real Fine Art Gallery, Denver Colorado, "I belong in a museum" Colorado Women's Artist Museum member exhibition, Gallery East, Denver Colorado, "Meraki" M&D Artistries, Denver Colorado, "Power of Three" 40West Gallery, Lakewood Colorado, "FULL CIRCLE" Presented by Woman’s Caucus for Art, Oz Gallery, Thornton Colorado, "RISE" Remain Real Fine Art Gallery, Denver Colorado, "Member Printmaking Exhibition" Juried, by Tracy Frickey, 40 West Gallery, "Woven Identities” RemainReal Fine Art Gallery, Denver Colorado

2023 “LOVE” Remain Real Fine Art Gallery, Denver Colorado

“40West 2023 Member Exhibition, 40West Gallery, Lakewood Colorado

“Southwestern Vibes” Presented by Woman’s Caucus for Art, Tenn Street Coffee &

Books, Denver Colorado

“RISE” The Second Annual Exhibition presented by The Blue Bench, The Lab on Santa

Fe, Denver Colorado, Curators: Elizabeth Carpio, Megan Carvajal, Jenn Merz CQ

2022 “Botanical Narratives” SassaBird Fine Art, Denver Colorado

“RISE” Space Gallery Annex, Denver, Colorado, Curators: David Proper, Elizabeth

Carpio, Brooke Elbert

“The Road Less Traveled- Personal Journeys in Contemporary Art” Edge Gallery,

Lakewood Colorado, Juror: André Lippard

2021 “SPOT ON #2” D’art Gallery, Denver Colorado, Juror and Curator, Gwen Chanzit

2020 “Mastermind” Pittsburgh Center For Arts & Media, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

2005 “Meet the Print” The Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

“Aichi” Keisho Art Association Annual Exhibition, Prefecture, Japan

Group Exhibitions

2024 "Body of Knowledge" Woman’s Caucus for Art Member show, Next Gallery, Lakewood Colorado "40West Spring Member Exhibition" 40West Gallery, Lakewood, Colorado, "PressingMatters" Mint&Serif, Lakewood Colorado, Curators Jenn Merz CQ and BJ Yost,

2023 “Our View” Woman’s Caucus for Art Member show, 931 Gallery, Denver Colorado

“Mud Season” 40West, Lakewood Colorado

“Living Tradition” WCACO Mural Exhibition, Taza Coffee House, Adams County

Colorado, Curators: Anne Emmons, Lisa Michot

2022 “Small Works, Big Ideas” Presented by Woman’s Caucus for Art, 40West, Lakewood

Colorado, Curators: Susan Gordon, Barb Pullen, Jenn Merz CQ

“Inked and Numbered” Mo’Print Exhibition, Mint & Serif Coffee House, Lakewood

Colorado, Curators Jenn Merz CQ, Annette Coleman

“Over, Under, Further, Forever” Woman’s Caucus for Art Member show Core New Art

Space, Lakewood Colorado, Curators Genevieve Waller, Jean B Smith

2021 “Beyond the Surface” Woman’s Caucus for Art Member show Core New Art Space,

Lakewood Colorado, Curator, Carol Bivins

“The Work of Women” Woman’s Caucus for Art Member show The Bus Stop Galleryin

NoBO, Boulder Colorado. Curators, Lyndy Bush and Lisa Michot

“Small Works Member Show” 40West Gallery, Lakewood Colorado

2020 “Pressing Matter” Mo’Print Exhibition, Payge Gallery, Denver Colorado, Curator: Jenn

Merz CQ

2019 “3X3X3” The Garage at Bitfactory, Denver Colorado

2005 Moore College of Art & Design Annual Senior Show, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2003-2005 Moore College of Art & Design Annual Student Show, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1998-2001 Sterling High School Annual Art Visual Show, Somerdale, New Jersey

Collections

“Just Before Dusk” Etching, The Free Library of Philadelphia, Permanent Print Collection

“The Age of Industry” Acrylic Painting, Sterling High School, Permanent Collection

Memberships

2020-Present Woman’s Caucus for Art Colorado Chapter

2020-Present 40West

Related Experience

2023-Adams County annual Rotella Park Festival make and take art project

2023-Juoror for “HUH? HMMM...” The Lab on Santa Fe

2023-A Curator and Organizer for “RISE” The Second Annual Exhibition presented by The Blue

Bench

2022 -Judge for the “Women's Day Wonderful Woman in the Arts Award”

2022-Present Woman’s Caucus for Art Colorado Chapter, New Member Connector

2021-Present Woman’s Caucus for Art Colorado Chapter, Board Member

2021-Co-curator of “See You. See Me.” Woman’s Caucus for Art juried exhibition by Adri Norris

2020- Present Woman’s Caucus for Art Colorado Chapter, Mural committee

2020- Present Woman’s Caucus for Art Colorado Chapter, Show committee

2019-2020-Gallery Assistant, Payge Gallery, Denver Colorado

2014-2015-Adagio Dance Studio, Stratford New Jersey, Printmaking class

2005-2006 Print Tech, Moor College of Art & Design, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2005 “The Rub” Mo’Print event, volunteer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2004-2005 Photography Lab Tech, Moor College of Art & Design, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Workshops

2016 Printmakers Open Forum, Silk Aquatint, Ballycastle, County Mayo Ireland

2015 Printmakers Open Forum, Collagraph, Oxford, Pennsylvania

2013 Women’s Studio Workshop, Drypoint Etching, Tuscany, Italy