Interview
Jen Davis
Jen Davis is a Bay Area-based multidisciplinary artist working primarily in acrylic and digital media. Known for her bold use of color and expressive style, her work is rooted in curiosity and explores the everyday through the lens of novelty. Jen believes the ordinary connects us, while the unusual invites deeper engagement, which can expand our perspective. Her pieces are vibrant, grounded in human experience, and always aiming to offer something new. With a background in public service, Jen’s experience and education in sustainability and affordable housing lay a foundation for artwork that speaks to the topics of worth, sustainability, and identity. At its core, Jen’s art is about encouraging connection and engagement, inviting us to reflect and grow.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My early interest in art came from my grandmother, who was a professional fine artist. I used to love being in her studio after our long car rides to visit her in Los Angeles from the Bay Area. Then, in elementary school, I began taking regular art lessons at a studio, which I continued until the end of high school. During my last two years there, I was hired to teach students. In college, I decided I wanted to make the world a better place, driving me to a career rooted in public service. I studied urban and environmental studies in hopes of creating better-planned cities. I continued along this path, still interested in making an impact on a local level through city government, and I began my work as an Analyst in multiple city departments while earning my Master’s in Public Administration and a certificate in Public Policy at the University of Southern California. This is where my interest in affordable housing policy and efforts grew, and I knew I wanted to help people get their most basic needs met so they could live with dignity and, hopefully, thrive. In 2020, I took my experience and pivoted to serving our most vulnerable citizens by working in the world of affordable housing. After years of working on these matters close to my heart, I’ve found joy in returning to my art practice through taking art lessons in Palo Alto, California and Paris, France and beginning my creative career through Spiderfish Studios, my art business I created to nurture my creative endeavors and share them with others. I still have the same need to make the world a better place; I now just use a different medium to make it happen. I use painting to tell stories, raise awareness, and make us feel more interconnected.”
What inspires you?
“I’m inspired by new perspectives on the ordinary and everyday. I especially love all that is odd, thought-provoking, and unique. I’m a very curious person and I’m very much drawn to novelty but I like grounding that feeling of novelty in the more everyday subject matter. I believe bringing a twist to what we already know allows us to grow our understanding of something familiar and expand our minds. I feel like the everyday unites us and the odd, unique, or novel allows for curiosity, allowing us to explore something new. I find the work I’m most proud of embodies these two aspects. The ordinary makes something more universal, allowing more of us to connect with it, but the uniqueness, strangeness, or differences call for us to pay special attention. I think the world is made brighter and more thoughtful by allowing the viewer of the art to embrace these differences with feelings of curiosity, and I appreciate art that highlights things of meaning and allows for the viewer to grow. I’m also inspired by my studies in sustainability and my past work in local government and affordable housing. I feel my public service background played a role in laying the groundwork for the meaning behind my artwork.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I explore themes of worth, sustainability, and basic needs in my creative work as I continue to strive to make this world a kinder, more thoughtful, and inclusive place. I aim to highlight things that matter to me, such as embracing differences, showing how we’re connected, and honoring what is usually overlooked or taken for granted. I want people to feel seen, expand their perspectives, and open up to a state of curiosity.”
How would you describe your work?
“Vibrant, whimsical, contemplative, unusual, and layered. I feel like my work reflects my curiosity, playfulness, and focus on topics of meaning that unite us and speak to people on a deeper level.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I’m influenced by all the art I have ever seen, from art in museums and galleries to artists on Instagram and Pinterest. I like to think I have picked up my style from a bit of everywhere. However, I do believe that the most important artists are the ones in my life who nurtured my love of art from the beginning. For me, they are my grandmother, my mom, and my aunts. My grandmother was an award-winning fine artist in Los Angeles, and I used to love rummaging around her studio and making art in there with her. At home, while I was growing up, my mom also had her own creative studio in our garage. There, I would watch as she created beautiful wreaths, and I would accompany her to various local shops where she would sell them. I would sometimes be in the garage with her painting while she worked, and sometimes I would make my own creations out of her materials. However, seeing the work of famous artists at a young age was thanks to my adventurous aunts who always loved a good trip to San Francisco. My aunt Barbara was an artist and created beautiful stone sculptures and fountains, and her and my aunt Jean, and my mom and I would go to the amazing art galleries in San Francisco together. Without all of these artists in my family shaping me, I would not be who I am today, and creating what I create.”
“I explore themes of worth, sustainability, and basic needs in my creative work as I continue to strive to make this world a kinder, more thoughtful, and inclusive place.”
What is your creative process like?
“I look for images that inspire me. I usually find them online from Pinterest or Google images, or often in the photos I took on my phone. I then look at color palettes to go with the subject I want to explore. For this, I look through various books I have that show some great color combinations in other art forms, such as flower arrangements or films. I also look at other artwork to get inspired by their colors, mediums, techniques, and use of perspective. Once I have these pieces in mind, I sketch out my idea on the canvas. I then complete my piece, usually with acrylic paint, and I typically seal it with a protective varnish after giving it a few weeks of thoughtful consideration to make sure it feels right and complete. I then name the piece after contemplating and refining the message and story that I’m trying to convey through the piece.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I believe at least part of our role is to raise awareness. We create visual portals allowing us to step into other worlds or even other people’s shoes or emotional worlds. We show possibilities. Artists hold up the mirror to society and individuals and show us where we can grow. We use a unique medium, it makes no sound but it speaks to people. We communicate through symbols and themes of common understanding to speak to one another on issues sometimes too sensitive to approach any other way effectively. We use color and form to highlight what matters, show our inner thoughts and give all of this space to be seen and reflected on. I see our role not changing but rather evolving in increasingly more digital forms, which I think allows for more room for creativity in how we express what we want to share. I think more artistic tools will be created, allowing more people to find mediums that speak to them and how they want to communicate creatively.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“In May 2025, I exhibited my work in a juried group exhibition in Palo Alto, California, at Pacific Art League Gallery, and I had the honor of winning a People's Choice Award for my piece titled Pose. In July 2025, I was part of a group exhibit in San Francisco, California, at Far Out Gallery.”
Website: spiderfishstudios.com
Instagram: @spiderfishstudios
