About Ms. Jen Bekman
Photo of Jen Bekman by Zach Klein.
To contact me, email person AT personism DOT com or, if you must, phone the gallery: 212.219.0166. (But I really (really!) like email a lot better than phone calls.)
Please note: Unsolicited artists’ submissions are regrettably not accepted, reviewed or acknowledged.
Photographers may have their work considered for the gallery itself or 20×200 by entering our competition, Hey, Hot Shot!. Artists in other media may submit their work via 20×200, being sure to carefully follow the provided submission guidelines on the site.
Additionally, I review photography portfolios at several major events each year and jury competitions and exhibitions for other institutions on a regular basis.
Bio: The Short of It (Want more? Have a look at The Long of It)
Recent press, upcoming lectures + portfolio reviews, as well as links to articles I’ve written are below, following my short bio and the lovely, if somewhat somber, portrait of me taken by genius photographer Stefan Ruiz.
Jen Bekman owns an eponymous a gallery, writes a blog called Personism and is the founder of the international photo competition, Hey, Hot Shot! . Her latest endeavor is 20×200, a place to buy editioned prints and photos at ridiculously affordable prices.
Jen Bekman Projects, the gallery, its exhibitions and Jen herself have been featured in dozens of publications including The New York Times, Harper’s, Art in America, Foam, Businessweek, Dwell, Der Spiegel and Le Monde. Jen has been a guest lecturer at The School of Visual Arts and the Photographic Resource Center @ Boston University, served as a reviewer at Center’s Review Santa Fe and was named an Innovator of the Year by American Photo. This year she’s jurying the Singular Image Prize for Center and in May she’ll be honored with the Rising Star Award from the Griffin Museum.
Her writing has appeared in GOOD Magazine and photo-eye Booklist.
Portrait by Stefan Ruiz for Foam Magazine
Recent Press
The New York Times (Thu.02.28.08)
Easing the Pain of Collecting by Julie Scelfo
Jen Bekman’s advice for entering the art market. (Multimedia: mp3 audio clip)
Where to Find Help includes many of my recommendations for buying art, online and in the real world.
Wired Magazine (03.08)
Home Improvements by Eric Smillie
Foam Magazine Issue #13 / searching (Winter.08)
Jen Bekman: Gallery Without Walls by Eric Miles (.pdf download)
Businessweek (02.06.08)
Creative Artists Confront Sales Anxiety by Kerry Miller
Turning a Creative Hobby into a Business by Kerry Miller (slideshow)
The Villager + Downtown Express (10.19.07)
Jen Bekman: Going on her nerve by Kelly Kingman
Upcoming Lectures, Panels + Portfolio Reviews
This year Jen will be jurying the Singular Image Prize for Center and is serving on the advisory committee for Blind Spot’s annual benefit auction on April 10th. This is also her third year participating in the Mentors’ Program for the School of Visual Arts’ Photography department.
Upcoming speaking engagements include a lecture at the The Minnesota Center for Photography (Feb 18.08) and a panel at the South By Southwest Interactive Festival (March 09.08) in Austin. She’ll be reviewing portfolios at The MCP (Feb 18.08), FotoFest (March 17-20.08) and Photo España (June 05-07.08 ).
In May she’ll be honored with the Rising Star Award from the Griffin Museum.
Articles by Jen Bekman
photo-eye Booklist (Fall 2007)
Minnesota to Paris - a conversation with Alec Soth about Paris Minnesota, his edition of Magnum Photos’ Fashion Magazine.
photo-eye Booklist (Summer 2007)
Where We Live - a review of the Getty exhibition and its accompanying catalog.
GOOD Magazine (Issue #3 May/June 2007)
Stimuli: Jen Bekman on Art - an article about art collecting and the Internet.
That 70s Girl by my mom