Jessie Rose Vala
Lives and works in Eugene, OR
Education: MFA University of Oregon, Eugene, OR BFA painting and ceramic sculpture at California College of Arts, Oakland, CA

Vala is an installation artist, working in drawing, painting, ceramic, paper sculpture, and video. Vala was raised primarily in Eugene OR, where at a young age she was introduced to meditation, aura reading, and psychedelics. This greatly influenced her interest in the multi-faceted nature of perception and reality. Her work explores non-linear narratives and environments inspired by an ongoing investigation of the possibilities of a shifting relationship to ourselves and our surroundings. Throughout her body of work there is a questioning of the boundaries between animate and inanimate, the rational and the supernatural, science and spirituality. Installation and multi-channel video allows Vala’s work to negate any sort of hierarchy allowing for a multiplicity of connections and realities.

Vala is part of the collaboration Light Hits with artist Kelie Bowman. Light Hits creates installations, music, and videos. In 2014 Vala started ungrundcollective.com which showcases the videos of five contemporary artists making similar humanistic inquiries. She is currently a member of Ditch Projects (a contemporary art space) in Eugene, Or. Vala’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.