Jena Jerms - Contemporary Artist

Jena Jerms (she/her) is a thirty two year old artist from the UK. After studying for her degree in Fine Art at York St John university, she now works primarily with oil paints from her small apartment in the heart of Howden in Yorkshire. Her work displays themes of surrealism, trauma and nonsensical oddities, often inspired by her dreams and nightmares. Jerms uses art as a way to navigate through her own personal trauma, while touching on universal topics that many people will resonate with. Her interests lie in human behaviour and psychology, stemming from a desire to understand herself and those around her from a very young age. The name Jena Jerms derives from the name she was saddled with by bullies at school; it's her way of reclaiming the name and turning a negative experience into a personal triumph - a concept she adopts into most of her work in an attempt to control the narrative rather than let it control her. Art gives Jerms the power that was taken from her, and she endeavours to empower others with her work in the same way.