Jean McElvane

 Prior to NIAD, Jean McElvane studied art and music at Contra Costa Community College for two years. She also worked as an artist’s assistant.

Her paintings and drawings tend toward realism, but the majority of her work is in the craft field, creating meticulously built fiber projects or using recycled and found materials to build amazing objects that capture the essence of insects or creatures.

// Jean’s available work //


exhibition history

Waking, Breathing, Making! organized by Laura Kamian McDermott // NAID Online Exhibition // February 2023

WIN WIN 10 Silent Auction Preview Exhibition // NIAD Gallery Exhibition // February 2022

Holiday Gift Guide #5, organized by Dawline-Jane Oni-Eseleh // NIAD Online Exhibition // December 2021

Menagerie on 23rd Street, organized by Prajakti Jayavant // NIAD Windows Exhibition // December 2021

Closing Of The Year // curated by Jean McElvane NIAD Windows 2020

Waste Not, Want Not: The Redemption of Trash // ACCI Gallery Berkeley 2020

Butterfly, Sugar // organized by Bonanza NIAD Art Center 2019

Pollinators: Jean McElvane + Mary Mortimer // NIAD Art Center April 2019

Together // organized by Laurie Reid NIAD Art Center December 2018

The Handmade // Rock Paper Scissors Collective Oakland 2018

Curious Weave // organized by Ramekon O’Arwisters NIAD Art Center 2016

Jean McElvane // NIAD Art Center 2016

Telling It Slant // organized by Courtney Eldridge Richmond Art Center 2015

City In Motion // NIAD Art Center 2014

Yes To The Dress Pop-Up Shop // organized by Peter Gravener NIAD Art Center 2013

Diamond Dogs Pet Supply // NIAD Art Center 2013

Championship Vinyl // NIAD Art Center 2013

You Are Here // organized by Robert Wuilfe NIAD Art Center 2013

The Variety Show // Factory Outlet Gallery 2012

Holiday Pop Up Shop And Lounge  // NIAD Art Center 2012

recent press

Nat. Brut: I, Too, Like Purple (May 2017)

San Francisco Chronicle: “City In Motion”: NIAD Artists Create Urban Environment (2014, May)

San Francisco Chronicle: NIAD Art Center’s Gifts Of Artistic Ability (2012, December)