about
Artist Statement
Jennifer’s work centers on materials derived from living systems — animal and plant fibers, and the ecological stories they hold — often paired with discarded matter from modern society. These materials form the physical and conceptual backbone of her practice, connecting her hands to the wider web of life and to the waste that exists only through human behavior. Fiber, made through our interaction with natural resources, can embody transformation and reciprocity among species, landscapes, and communities. By choosing natural materials alongside salvaged remnants, she acknowledges our entanglement with ecological vitality, waste, and environmental stress.
Her work is guided by systems thinking and a deep concern for how humanity has reached a moment of ecological overshoot — living beyond planetary limits and endangering the conditions that support life. She examines nature’s astounding form and function, the biological and human-made infrastructures strained by thresholds we are rapidly exceeding, and the consequences emerging with increasing frequency.
Through weaving, tufting, stitching, and dimensional construction, she builds fiber forms that feel both familiar and otherworldly. These morphed compositions evoke biological growth, symbiosis, and mutation — reminding viewers that life is constantly adapting under pressure. Change is constant — but must work to prevent the transformations that threaten our collective survival.
Her work calls for attention and curiosity, not through tragedy but through possibility. It invites viewers to linger with the intricacy of the natural world, and the flora and fauna we too often overlook. Ultimately, the works exist to rekindle awe — to remind us that the natural world is a community to which we belong, and one we must care for to ensure a shared future.
Bio
Jennifer Linton (b.1971) is a Chicago- and Michigan-based fiber artist whose work explores humanity’s entanglement with ecological systems and the materials we rely on. Working with fibers derived from living landscapes alongside salvaged remnants of human consumption, she considers how transformation and adaptation could unfold across species, environments, and communities.
Rooted in Midwestern ecosystems she has called home her entire life, Linton’s practice reflects both a personal connection to place and a broader concern for planetary futures. Before turning to art full-time, she spent two decades as an art director in publishing, cultivating visual storytelling skills that now inform the narrative and spatial qualities of her work. Her passion for environmental justice also led to years of grassroots climate organizing — a grounding force in the urgency and hope embedded in her studio practice.
Linton launched her practice in 2021, initially creating functional textile objects that deepened her material research. In 2025, she transitioned fully into dimensional, concept-driven forms, exhibiting work that invites viewers to linger with the complexity of the natural systems that sustain us. Through weaving, tufting, stitching, and sculptural construction, she investigates interdependence, resilience, and the possibility of collective care in a rapidly changing world.
She continues to live and work in the Midwest, drawing inspiration from the flora, fauna, and communities intertwined with her own story. Linton holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.