Jen Miller's latest series of graphic paintings Birds of Paradise, draws on her background as a dancer and graphic artist, pushing the graphic techniques of the painted poster medium beyond commercial messages to make stunning art.

These striking works evoke the aesthetics of 60s pop, to 90s grunge, to contemporary mass media culture. Her subjects derive from LA’s urban dance scene and her own immersion in local Brazilian culture. Miller depicts fiery feathered ‘sambistas’––an ‘homage’ to dancers––their theatrics, panache and spirited camaraderie. Bits of text or 'sound bites' float around the dancers, akin to today's barrage of media–– still the dancers emerge as "defiant angels" ..... 

"Miller’s Birds of Paradise come from a place where all women have uncompromising lives; their commanding beauty and unwavering sensuality will capture you just as the hot colors and enigmatic text of the canvasses have lured you in."

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BIOGRAPHY:

Jen Miller was born and raised in Los Angeles, growing up in Echo Park, Korea Town, and Venice, which helped shape her urban visual style. She received her B.A. in graphic communications from California State University, Los Angeles where she was first introduced to the graphic technique of transforming images into dot-patterns, or halftones, and garnered recognition for her acheivements in Graphic Communications, and for her sensual drawings of the feminine form. She followed with a successful career in graphic design for LA's entertainment and music industries.

A random introduction to local Brazilian culture, and her first trip to Brazil in 1990, began an ongoing love affair with the dance, music, culture, style, and aesthetic of Brazil, and led to her joining an LA-based samba dance ensemble. As a dancer she performed on stage alongside artists such as Carlos Santana and Colombia’s Charlie Zaa, and she has toured withThe Grateful Dead’s “Further Festival” with bands Los Lobos, Jefferson Airplane, and Mickey Hart.

Jen Miller’s graphic work has been featured on album covers for artists including Ottmar Leibert, Maná, Barbra Streisand, June Carter Cash, and Johnny Cash. She has created entertainment graphics for shows such as The X-Files.

Her artwork has been exhibited at California State University Los Angeles, W Hotel, and The Women’s International Film & Television Showcase at the Pacific Design Center, and appears in private collections in United States, Brazil, Indonesia, and Italy.