Past Talks & More | Artist Talks

Steffani Jemison

Diversities in Practice

Collage of two images: a woman looks thoughtfully to the right, and the second shows a book with the title "a rock a river a street."

Steffani Jemison, a multimedia artist, performer, and writer, shares her exploration of how we move and how we are moved by each other.

During her presentation, Jemison will read from “Wind Bag” (which appeared in the journal the Brooklyn Rail, December 2022–January 2023) and her debut novella A Rock, A River, A Street (published by Greene Naftali, 2022). She will also screen videos to demonstrate how she works through ideas. Touching on the nature of artistic experimentation, research, and knowledge, Jemison will be joined by a graduate student from Ohio States Department of Art for a brief conversation before an audience Q&A.

Greene Naftali gallery describes Jemison’s multidisciplinary approach as being “informed by deep research into movement practices, literature, ethnomusicology, and the history of cinema. She is known for her lush video portrayals of highly skilled performers, whose spellbinding physical feats pose the questions at the heart of Jemison’s own practice.” 

More about Diversities in Practice

Diversities in Practice is a collaboration between Ohio State’s Wexner Center for the Arts, Department of Art, and Living Culture Initiative. This series includes talks and moderated discussions featuring a range of artists, thinkers, and practitioners engaged in compelling and critical work, centering projects that examine, shape, and push both material and ideological boundaries.

A woman wearing a sweater looks at papers on a music stand while turning the knobs on a panel next to a laptop.

Steffani Jemison, image copyright Nottingham Contemporary, 2017.

A light blue book cover with the title "a rock a river a street" and the author's name Steffani Jemison written in purple text.

Cover art of A Rock, A River, A Street, image: Primary Information.

About the Artist

Steffani Jemison chevron-down chevron-up

Steffani Jemison is an artist living in Brooklyn, New York. She has presented solo exhibitions and commissioned performances at JOAN Los Angeles; Greene Naftali, New York; Mass MoCA, North Adams, Massachusetts; Jeu de Paume, Paris; CAPC Bordeaux, France; the Museum of Modern Art, New York; LAXART, Los Angeles; and other venues. Her work has been shown in significant generational exhibitions, including Greater New York 2021 and the Whitney Biennial 2019, and is part of many permanent public collections. Jemison is the author of A Rock, A River, A Street (Primary Information, 2022). Her essays have been published in Artforum and the Brooklyn Rail. Learn more on the artist's website.

LEARNING & PUBLIC PRACTICE PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY
American Electric Power Foundation
Huntington 
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation
Big Lots Foundation

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
Ingram-White Castle Foundation
The Ohio State University Office of Outreach & Engagement
Ohio Arts Council 
Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation

WEXNER CENTER PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY
Ohio Department of Development
Greater Columbus Arts Council
The Wexner Family
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Ohio Arts Council
CampusParc
Ohio State’s Global Arts + Humanities Discovery Theme
The Columbus Foundation
Nationwide Foundation
Vorys, Sater, Seymour, and Pease

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
Mike and Paige Crane
Axium Packaging
Nancy Kramer
Ohio State Energy Partners
Ohio History Fund/Ohio History Connection 
Larry and Donna James
Bruce and Joy Soll
Jones Day
Alex and Renée Shumate
 

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Steffani Jemison