Marn Jensen has spent most of her creative career as a wordsmith and product maker at Hallmark. In the last ten years, she has pushed herself to exercise another creative muscle through visual art. She enjoyed her first solo exhibit in 2010 with several following. Most recently, she and fellow Hallmark artist Andy Newcom were granted the Barbara Marshall Award, presented to a Creative to pursue a passion-led project. The resulting co-collaborative project, “Wishes for the World,” an exhibit of over 50 pieces of mixed media artwork based on “wishes” collected from elders across the country, was met with great acclaim and ignited Jensen’s desire to keep “creating art that tells a story.”

I love working with old things — found objects, rusty bits, discarded photos — and breathing new life into them. I not only see the beauty in each object, but I love extending the story by threading them into my work. As I play with photos, I love thinking about the history behind the faces — all that was said, and more interestingly, unsaid. The series of photos with “peeking through faces” happened serendipitously. I’d cut out a face from a photo and it happened to be laying on top of another, larger photo — exposing a new face. Not only did it make me laugh out loud — it made me think about what else is going on under the surface — are people really who we think they are? I loved both the chuckle and creepy factors as I envisioned these pieces hanging on a typical family room wall.

I also love the backsides of things. Flipping things over or turning them inside out exposes an equally beautiful side. It’s purposefully meant to make you scratch your head while wondering what else could be lurking behind those portraits. Similarly, “Untold Stories” features old photos that are turned over — making you wonder whose face might be hidden beneath or maybe even forgotten. And my encaustic work adds new twist and texture. It’s an unforgiving medium that forces you to move with the melted wax and be flexible with the outcome. I love that the process is all about layering — both exposing and hiding parts of the narrative.

Maybe it’s the writer in me that wants each piece to tell a story. I hope my work sparks a chuckle or a curiosity that makes you want to tell your own — because there is always more to every story. — Jensen

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You can take a quick look at some of my work at my two insta accounts: @marnjensenart and @wishes4world.

My studio is often open on First Fridays or I’m available to meet at my studio at the Bauer, if interested in seeing specific pieces.

Contact info: marnjensen@mac.com or message me through my Instagram accounts.

Thank you!