About Jessyca Murphy
Jessyca Murphy (she/they) is a visual artist, writer, and cat daddy living in Bellingham, WA. Working in both digital illustration and fiber arts, her work explores mental illness and gender identity through dark humor and radical vulnerability. Jessyca received her M.A. in Media Studies from the New School in 2015. She is currently the Executive Director at Make.Shift Art Space.
CV
EDUCATION
2015 M.A. Media Studies, The New School for Public Engagement, New York, NY
2008 B.A. Creative Writing (Film Studies Minor), Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2021-present. Executive Director, Make.Shift Art Space, Bellingham, WA
2020-2021 Student Community Manager, Path with Art, Seattle, WA
2017-2020 Gallery Director, Make.Shift Art Space, Bellingham, WA
2013-2017 Gallery Committee Member, Make.Shift Art Space, Bellingham, WA
2008-2011 Co-Founder & Curator, Ladyfest, Bellingham, WA
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2015-2016 Adjunct Instructor, Edmonds Community College, Lynnwood, WA (Queer Identities)
2014-2015 Assistant Professor, Parsons The New School for Design, New York, NY (Intro to Fashion Studies, History of Fashion)
2014/2015 Teaching Assistant, Whatcom Community College, Bellingham, WA (Humanities 101)
AWARDS
April 2019 Best Gallery in Bellingham, for Make.Shift Art Space, Cascadia Weekly, Bellingham, WA
April 2018 Best Gallery in Bellingham, for Make.Shift Art Space, Cascadia Weekly, Bellingham, WA
April 2015 Best Non-Linear Project for “Native Music Project: An Interactive Documentary,” Mixed Messages: The New School Media Studies Graduate Student Awards, New York, NY
Oct 2011 Best Practical Effects for Tour de Chat, Trailer Awards, Bellingham, WA
Oct 2011 Best Editing for Peau le Hold-Up, Trailer Awards, Bellingham, WA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Oct 2019 Soft Power, Wink Wink Boutique, Bellingham, WA
Sept 2013 You Already Are Yourself, Colony Wharf Gallery, Bellingham, WA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Nov 2018 Group Exhibition, Cut-Aways, Make.Shift Art Space, Bellingham, WA
Sept 2015 Group Exhibition, Icky Bodies, Less Space Gallery, Oakland, CA
April 2015 Group Exhibition, Mixed Messages, IMC Lab + Gallery, New York City, NY
Aug 2014 Group Exhibition, Pedal Party!, Make.Shift Art Space, Bellingham, WA
March 2014 Group Exhibition, Home: Through Our Eyes, Whatcom Community College, Bellingham, WA
Nov 2013 Group Exhibition, Mutants R Us, Make.Shift Art Space, Bellingham, WA
June 2013 Group Exhibition, FEMpowerment Festival, Flea Market Gallery, Bellingham, WA
Feb 2012 Group Exhibition, Winter Commission IV: Disasters!, Spark! Museum, Bellingham, WA
Oct 2011 Group Exhibition, Built By Association, Overgrowth Gallery, Bellingham, WA
Feb 2011 Group Exhibition, Winter Commission III: Storytelling, Museum of Radio and Electricity, Bellingham, WA
June 2011 Group Exhibition, Ladyfest Bellingham, Cornwall Gallery, Bellingham, WA
Sep 2010 Group Exhibition, The Devil Has Sex, Glow Nightclub, Bellingham, WA
June 2009 Group Exhibition, Ladyfest Bellingham, Jinx Art Space, Bellingham, WA
Dec 2008 Group Exhibition, Death of the Polaroid, WWU Viking Union Gallery, Bellingham, WA
COMMISSIONS
2013 Digital Illustration, Pom Pom, Bellingham on Tap, Bellingham, WA
2012 Digital Illustration, 5 Things to Do with a Men’s Shirt, Buffalo Exchange, Tuscon, AZ
2012 Digital Illustration, NYC Skyline, Buffalo Exchange, Tuscon, AZ
2011 T-Shirt Design, Shake Us to the Ground, So Adult, Bellingham, WA
2011 Digital Film, Gym 60 Commercial (collaboration with Tim Hubner), Gym60 Program, Gillette, MT
Feb 2011 Digital Film, Winter Commission Commercial, (collaboration with Tim Hubner), Winter Commission IV: Disaster!, Bellingham, WA
BIBLIOGRAPHY
“PSA w/ASP art: Video Series for Emerging Creative Professionals,” WWU AS Productions, April 16, 2021
"New Waves, Same Tides Scene Report: Bellingham," Madison Holup, Mothership Zine, Summer 2017
“Scum Eating: Everyone’s just so nice,” Raleigh Davis, What’s Up Magazine, May 2014
“Best Bets: Home: Through Our Eyes,” Bellingham Herald, March 19, 2014
“Ladyfest Bellingham ’11 starts today,” Kenneth M. Piekarski, The Stranger, Jun 15, 2011
“Third annual Ladyfest kicks off this week,” Kera Wanielista, KOMONews, Jun 13, 2011
“Rocker chicks rise up,” Samantha O’Brochta, The Western Front, April 20, 2010
“Girls Music Workshop,” Brent Cole, What’s Up Magazine, Feb 2010
“Ladyfest: A Celebration of Female Artistry,” Anna Rankin, What’s Up Magazine, June 2009,
“Bellingham’s Ladyfest Celebrates Creativity of Women,” Bellingham Herald, May 14, 2011
“Rumor Has It,” Carey Ross, Cascadia, Weekly, April 14, 2010
“LadyFest Bellingham: Where the girls are,” Ian Chant, Cascadia Weekly, June 24, 2009
“Students piece together a community at the Skill Share,” Kassidy Vietti, Western Front, Dec 3, 2007
“Zine revival,” Chris Neumann, The Western Front, May 13, 2005