In my practice, I explore our role as ecosystem builders and destroyers through the perspective of the plants and animals that live near and with humans in the urban/suburban landscape. I look to see how the edges of the built environment coalesce with the “natural” landscape. I reflect on our relationships with these species, seeing how they shape me and mediate my experience of the urban/suburban landscape. These complex relationships are what makes us human animals. These species exist in our homes, in our yards, in between the cracks of our built environment, fragmented but still thriving and never truly under our command, enmeshed in our homes and neighborhoods.


My work looks through the lenses of native and non-native species, cultivated and accidental ecosystems, and environmental disruption to explore our place in the world. I want to celebrate and grieve the non-human species I live my life alongside and the complexities that come with navigating my emotions about them and what we as humans do to them. By looking to my past and present relationships with non-human species, I render them on an intimate scale with drawing, painting, and collage.

 
Photo by Morgan Barrie

Photo by Morgan Barrie

Jessica Tenbusch is an artist and illustrator based in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Her work is inspired by the plants and animals that live near and with humans in the suburban/urban landscape. She explores these complex inter-species relationships as well as how those relationships shape her as a human animal. Creating works on paper using drawing and cut paper forms, she reflects on our role as ecosystem builders and destroyers. She has exhibited in solo and group shows nationally including at River House Arts (OH), Momentum Gallery (NC), and Hatch Arts (MI). Her work has been featured in print by Create! Magazine and BOOOOOOOM, and online by BOOOOOOOM, Create! Magazine, Rustbelt Arts, and The Jealous Curator. Illustration clients include the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability and the band Maggie Belle. Jessica is active in cultivating a local art community curating shows at River House Arts (OH), Ann Arbor Arts Center (MI), and Hatch Arts (MI) as well as, being a former owner/operator of Ypsi Alloy Studios, a 3D arts studio she formed and co-owned with two other local artists. Jessica received her BFA and MFA from Eastern Michigan University where she concentrated in metalsmithing and drawing.

Solo, Two, and Three-Person Exhibitions

2025
Untitled solo - River House Arts, Toledo OH (upcoming)

2024
Collectanea - Buckham Gallery, Flint MI
Under Every Grief and Pine: Perennial Matter - River House Arts, Toledo OH
Spring Shadows - 813 Microgallery, Ann Arbor MI (solo)

2021
Tangled Gardens Between Us - River House Arts, Toledo OH (solo)

2015
Lacuna: Life Through Death - Chin-Azzaro Gallery, Ypsilanti MI (solo)

Selected Group Exhibitions

2024
Spring Salon - Detroit Contemporary, Detroit MI
Nature Interrupted - Momentum Gallery, Asheville OH
Art Fair | Detroit - ArtClvb at Newlab, Detroit MI
Smalls - Gallery NAGA, Boston MA

2023
Eye of the Storm - Hatch Art, Hamtramck MI
Higher Frequencies - WOW x WOW, online exhibition
Small Works | Big Impact - Momentum Gallery, Asheville NC

2022
Cornucopia - WOW x WOW, online exhibition
Small Works | Big Impact - Momentum Gallery, Asheville NC

2020
Create! Magazine National Juried Exhibition - Jackson Dinsdale Art Center, Hastings NE
Wild: Winter Online Exhibition - PxP Contemporary, online exhibition

2019
You Can't Touch A Ghost - Galleri 2987, Detroit MI 
Nomadic Objects - Oloman Next Door, Hamtramck MI 
Agency II - River House Arts, Toledo OH
97th Annual All Media Exhibition - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor MI
Kindred - Barickuda Gallery, Ann Arbor MI

2018
Thinking With Animals  -  River House Arts, Toledo OH 
Peaceable Kingdom - Higher Art Gallery, Traverse City MI 
Written Into Rock - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor MI 
The Infinite Undoing - Galleri 2987, Detroit MI 
Sanctuary - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor MI 
Alumni-18: Sculpture - Ford Gallery, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti MI 

2017
Emergent Effect - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor MI 
Sacred Spaces - Higher Art Gallery, Traverse City MI 
Gathering: A Venison Magazine Retrospective - Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Albany CA 

2016
Alter+Combine - (SCENE) Metrospace, Michigan State University, Lansing MI 
Borders - Walter Terhune Gallery, Owens Community Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Perrysburg OH 
Never Not Broken - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor MI 
Re: Formation - Gallery Project, Toledo OH & Ann Arbor MI 
Echoes - 22 North Gallery, Ypsilanti MI 

2015
CLOSER - (SCENE) Metrospace, Michigan State University, Lansing MI 
Potato, Potahto: Sides of Midwestern Life - 22 North Gallery, Ypsilanti MI 
Forage: A Collection of Honey Bee Inspired Art - 22 North Gallery, Ypsilanti MI 

2014
Master Pieces - Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati OH

Press and Features

2024
Interview, Array 2, Booooooom, Jeff Hamada

2023
“Negative Space: Jessica Tenbusch,” Colored Pencil Magazine, October Issue

2022
Quiet, Booooooom, Jeff Hamada

2021
“Tangled Gardens Between Us” Review, BG Independent News, David Dupont, July 24, 2021 [link]

2020
"In Your Own Words" Review, Create! Magazine, Alicia Puig and Ekaterina Popova, Issue 19
Artist Feature, Booooooom, April 02 2020 [link]
Artist Feature, Candyfloss Magazine, Issue 2

2019
Artist Feature, Create! Magazine, Issue 14
Artist Feature, The Jealous Curator, Danielle Krysa, May 23, 2019 [link]

2018
"Thinking with Animals" Review, Rustbelt Arts, K.A. Letts, March 1, 2018 [link]
Manifest Exhibition Annual: Season 10, MANIFEST Gallery Press

2016
CLOSER , Exhibition Catalog, (SCENE) Metrospace, Michigan State University, Lansing MI
Artist Feature, Venison Quarterly, Summer
Alter+Combine, Exhibition Catalog, (SCENE) Metrospace, Michigan State University, Lansing MI

Lectures and Talks

Under Every Grief and Pine: Perennial Matter - River House Arts, Artist Talk, April 21, 2024
Collectanea - Buckham Gallery, Artist Talk, February 16, 2024
Eye of the Storm - Hatch Art, curatorial and artist panel discussion, March 18, 2023
Thinking With Animals - River House Arts, curatorial and artist panel discussion, March 29, 2018
Chimera - 22 North Gallery, curatorial talk, December 1, 2017

Professional Activities

Professional Advisory Committee - School of Art & Design, University of Wisconsin Stout, Menomonie, WI, 2024 - 2025
Eye of the Storm - Hatch Art, Hamtramck, MI, Co-curated with Paloma Núñez-Regueiro, 2023
Ypsi Alloy Studios - Ypsilanti MI, Owner/Operator, 2015-2022
Thinking With Animals - River House Arts, Toledo OH, Co-curated with Morgan Barrie, 2018
Sanctuary - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor MI, Curator, 2018
Forage VI - 22 North Gallery, Ypsilanti MI, Juror, 2018
Emergent Effect - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor MI, Curator, 2017
Forage V - 22 North Gallery, Ypsilanti MI, Juror, 2017
Chimera - 22 North Gallery, Ypsilanti MI, Co-curated/Juried with Morgan Barrie, 2017
Echoes - 22 North Gallery, Ypsilanti MI, Curator, 2016
Forage IV - 22 North Gallery, Ypsilanti MI, Juror, 2016

Clients and Collaborations

University of Michigan, School of Environment and Sustainability
Maggie Belle