About
Jane Flynn is a photographer who is deeply interested in documenting those in contemporary American society who may not typically be considered as underrepresented, but are not well - or fairly - represented within art and media today. She has always had an overwhelming curiosity for the United States -- its history, the extremes of its politics, its standing as a land of unbridled capitalism, and those who inhabit a country in one of the four largest continents on earth-- have always seemed appealing. Whether it be from the media’s representation, or just plain curiosity, she has always been positively fascinated by the vernacular peculiarities of the American way of life. It is this deep fascination with “the other” that drove her so far from her home country of Scotland in 2013 to pursue an MFA at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and where she first met the Mennonites, who she began documenting in 2014. She is currently working with Southern Illinois University Carbondale to publish a book of the series, titled Mennonites of Southern Illinois: A Photographic Journal, with forwards by Herbert K. Russell and Liz Wells.
Using her camera to enter into different communities and organizations, she allows her subjects to pose themselves. Documenting what lies before her lens, unaltered by her hand (rearranging or major posing), Flynn uses photography as a record of her experiences as an outsider to America and to her subject matter’s grouping. Subject matter and photographer are united on their differences (and some similarities), comparing their lives, upbringings, and hobbies to build a close knit relationship and acceptance of one another. Her projects are not an exhaustive documentation of her subject matter, but rather an outsider's observation on American society from the perspective of a white, non-American, woman.
Jane completed her MFA degree in Media Arts, with a concentration on Photography, at the College of Mass Communications and Media Arts at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois in 2016. In 2013, she earned a BA in Fine Art, with a specialization in photography, from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Dundee, Scotland.
Using her camera to enter into different communities and organizations, she allows her subjects to pose themselves. Documenting what lies before her lens, unaltered by her hand (rearranging or major posing), Flynn uses photography as a record of her experiences as an outsider to America and to her subject matter’s grouping. Subject matter and photographer are united on their differences (and some similarities), comparing their lives, upbringings, and hobbies to build a close knit relationship and acceptance of one another. Her projects are not an exhaustive documentation of her subject matter, but rather an outsider's observation on American society from the perspective of a white, non-American, woman.
Jane completed her MFA degree in Media Arts, with a concentration on Photography, at the College of Mass Communications and Media Arts at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois in 2016. In 2013, she earned a BA in Fine Art, with a specialization in photography, from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Dundee, Scotland.
Exhibitions
2023
Tales by Light National Photography Exhibition, St. Louis Artist’s Guild, St. Louis, MO [Juried]
Progress. On Contemporary and Future Society, curated by LoosenArt, Millepiani Rome, Rome, Italy [Juried]
2022
Grayscale, Decode Gallery, Tucson, AZ [Juried]
Searching for Life: Regrowth & Display, WE, the Women's Caucus Exhibition (part of the World Record FotoFocus Biennial), Xavier University Art Gallery, Cincinnati, OH [Juried]
The Montgomery Photo Festival presented by the Society of Arts & Crafts, International Arts Center, Hui Bao Zhu Gallery, Troy University, Troy, AL [Juried]
The Montgomery Photo Festival presented by the Society of Arts & Crafts, Kress on Dexter, Montgomery, AL [Juried]
2021
29th Cedarhurst Biennial, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mitchell Museum, Mt. Vernon, IL [Juried]
OUR PLANET: OURSELVES, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL [Juried]
2020
The Great Escape, Float Photo Magazine, online [Juried]
Postcard Perspectives, ARTSPACE at Untitled, Oklahoma City, OK
Greetings From..., St. Louis Artists' Guild, St. Louis, MO
2016
2016 SPE Midwest Regional Multi-Caucus Exhibition, McNamee Gallery, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO [Juried]
The Quiet in the Land: The Mennonites of Southern Illinois, University Museum, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL [Solo]
25th Annual New Work by Students, Faculty and Staff, Department of Cinema and Photography, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mt. Vernon, IL
2015
The Creative Portrait Exhibition, Los Angeles Center of Photography, Los Angeles, CA [Juried]
Annual Shrode Photography Competition Exhibit, Regenhardt Gallery at Shrode Art Center, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mt. Vernon, IL [Juried]
Meat Landscapes (2015 MFA Graduate Symposium), Southern Illinois University Museum, Carbondale, IL
2014
Stonefort (2014 Small Town Documentary), Communications Building, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Southern Illinois Neighborhoods (2014 MFA Graduate Symposium), Southern Illinois University Museum, Carbondale, IL
24th Annual New Work by Students, Faculty and Staff, Department of Cinema and Photography, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mt. Vernon, IL
2013
These Small Shrines, B.A. Exhibition, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Dundee, Scotland
2012
The Mountains are Fountains, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Dundee, Scotland
2011 Collection(s) Part I, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee, Scotland
Tales by Light National Photography Exhibition, St. Louis Artist’s Guild, St. Louis, MO [Juried]
Progress. On Contemporary and Future Society, curated by LoosenArt, Millepiani Rome, Rome, Italy [Juried]
2022
Grayscale, Decode Gallery, Tucson, AZ [Juried]
Searching for Life: Regrowth & Display, WE, the Women's Caucus Exhibition (part of the World Record FotoFocus Biennial), Xavier University Art Gallery, Cincinnati, OH [Juried]
The Montgomery Photo Festival presented by the Society of Arts & Crafts, International Arts Center, Hui Bao Zhu Gallery, Troy University, Troy, AL [Juried]
The Montgomery Photo Festival presented by the Society of Arts & Crafts, Kress on Dexter, Montgomery, AL [Juried]
2021
29th Cedarhurst Biennial, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mitchell Museum, Mt. Vernon, IL [Juried]
OUR PLANET: OURSELVES, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL [Juried]
2020
The Great Escape, Float Photo Magazine, online [Juried]
Postcard Perspectives, ARTSPACE at Untitled, Oklahoma City, OK
Greetings From..., St. Louis Artists' Guild, St. Louis, MO
2016
2016 SPE Midwest Regional Multi-Caucus Exhibition, McNamee Gallery, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO [Juried]
The Quiet in the Land: The Mennonites of Southern Illinois, University Museum, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL [Solo]
25th Annual New Work by Students, Faculty and Staff, Department of Cinema and Photography, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mt. Vernon, IL
2015
The Creative Portrait Exhibition, Los Angeles Center of Photography, Los Angeles, CA [Juried]
Annual Shrode Photography Competition Exhibit, Regenhardt Gallery at Shrode Art Center, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mt. Vernon, IL [Juried]
Meat Landscapes (2015 MFA Graduate Symposium), Southern Illinois University Museum, Carbondale, IL
2014
Stonefort (2014 Small Town Documentary), Communications Building, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Southern Illinois Neighborhoods (2014 MFA Graduate Symposium), Southern Illinois University Museum, Carbondale, IL
24th Annual New Work by Students, Faculty and Staff, Department of Cinema and Photography, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mt. Vernon, IL
2013
These Small Shrines, B.A. Exhibition, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Dundee, Scotland
2012
The Mountains are Fountains, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Dundee, Scotland
2011 Collection(s) Part I, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee, Scotland