Biography 

Jesse Connor’s paintings develop in conversation with the miraculous and quotidian moments of his daily life, in which every experience—talking with family, running errands, noticing animals or architecture—evoke joy, humor, and mystery. Visions of paintings may emerge from interactions between shadow, light, and color, configurations of clouds, and other phenomena that catalyze the liminality in time, place, and memory within which Connor’s paintings live.
A dedicated mentor to artists developing their craft, Connor has taught at several colleges in the Northeast, including the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Springfield Technical Community College, and Bennington College. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor of Art at Mount Wachusett Community College, as well as co-owner and founder of Boat Yard Art Space in Leverett, MA, where he paints and curates small exhibitions featuring emerging artists. He holds a BFA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and an MFA from the University of Michigan. 
Born: Northampton, MA, USA
Resides: Leverett, MA, USA

Education

2003 MFA Printmaking/Painting, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA 
1998 BFA Printmaking, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA

Awards

2009                  Blanche E. Colman Award, Boston, MA
2005                  Beverly Horlick Award, Key West, FL
2002                  Dybvig Award, University of Michigan, MI

Solo Exhibitions

2023                  Mesic/.5, Leverett Craft & Arts Center, Leverett, MA
2023                  Mesic/.5, Binney Gallery, Wilbraham & Monson Academy (MA)
2016                  Far Reaches,  East Wing Gallery Mount Wachusett Community  
                           College, Gardner, MA              
2016                  Wanderings, Laughing Dog Bikes, Amherst, MA
2015                  Far Reaches, Taber Gallery, Holyoke Community College, 
                           Holyoke MA
2013                  Amend, Worcester Windows, Worcester MA
2013                  Intersection, Binney Gallery, Wilbraham & Monson Academy
                           Wilbraham, MA
2009                  Inherent, Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
2007                  Inherent, Hampden Gallery, University of Massachusetts, 
                           Amherst, MA
2005                  Sweet Dreams Baby, Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
2003                  Home, The Guild Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI

Collaborative Exhibitions

2023                  Mesic, Jesse Connor and Mikael Petraccia, Student Union Gallery, 
                           University of  Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
2022                  Recent Work, Jesse Connor and Mikael Petraccia , East Wing 
                           Gallery, Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner, MA                              
2016                  Wanderings, Jesse Connor and A.D. Tinkham, Nash Gallery, 
                           Easthampton, MA
2014                  Alterscape, Jesse Connor, Thortsen Dennerline, Mikael Petraccia, 
                           A.P.E., Northampton, MA
2012                  Intersection, Student Union Gallery, University of Massachusetts,
                           Amherst, MA

Group Exhibitions

2023                 North East Sketchbooks, Pulp Gallery, Holyoke, MA (Juried)
2023                 Under Currents, Amherst, MA (Juried)
2019                 Page’s Barn, Hadley, MA
2017                 Laws Change. People Die. The Land Remains. 
                          Historic Northampton, MA
2016                 Open Studios, Paper City Studio, Holyoke, MA
2015                 Fifty Shades of Red, Herter Gallery, University of Massachusetts,
                          Amherst, MA
2015                 Eyewitness, Hampden Gallery, University of Massachusetts, 
                          Amherst, MA
2013                 STCC Faculty Exhibition, Amy H Carberry Gallery, Springfield
                          MA
2012                 A Novel Idea, Hampden Gallery/Incubator Space, University of
                          Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
2009                Paint Present, Lexington Art League, Lexington, KY
2009                The American Dream/When Worlds Collide, Trakt Project 
                          Raum, Berlin, Germany    
2009                Americaura, The University of Massachusetts and Yaounde
                          National Library, Cameroon, W. Africa                
2006                Springfield Museum Exhibit, MA Mutual Center, Springfield, MA
2004                Nomad’s Land, Warren Robbins Gallery, University of Michigan, 
                          Ann Arbor, MI                         
2000                Three Key West Artists, Lucky Street Gallery, Key West, FL

Professional/Community  Engagements

2023                Glazing/Oil Painting  Workshop, Binney Gallery, Wilbraham &
                          Monson  Academy, MA                    
2022                Gallery Talk/Recent Work, East Wing Gallery, Mount Wachusett 
                          Community College, Gardener, MA                         
2018-19           Monotype/Mixed Media Community Building Workshop, 
                          Springfield Technical Community College, Springfield, MA       
2015/16           Guest Speaker, Far Reaches, East Wing Gallery, Mount Wachusett 
                          Community  College, Gardner MA & Taber Gallery, Holyoke 
                          Community College, Holyoke, MA
2013                 Mixed Media Workshop, Hampden Gallery, University of 
                          Massachusetts, Amherst, MA        
2010                 External Juror, Junior/Senior Show, University of Massachusetts, 
                          Amherst, MA
2007                Guest Speaker, Inherent, Hampden Gallery, University of 
                          Massachusetts, Amherst, MA                    
2005                 External Juror, Junior/Senior Show, University of Massachusetts, 
                          Amherst, MA 
1999                 Guest Speaker, Painting II with Richard Yarde, University of  
                          Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Curatorial/Show Installation

2023                A Retrospect, A.D. Tinkham, Leverett Crafts and Art Center, 
                         Leverett, MA 
2023                Fitchburg Art Museum, Painting II/Drawing III, Student Exhibition 
                         Fitchburg, MA  
2020                Upper Bend, Installed Community Art Auction for Community 
                         Meals, Turners Falls, MA
2019                Emerging Artists, Recent MassArt Grads Exhibitions, Boat Yard 
                         Art Space, Leverett, MA                        
2018                Paper Space, MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA (curation,
                         installation, Print Assemblage, end of semester show, Bennington 
                         College
2014                Art Handling, Smith Museum of Art, Northampton, MA 
2013                Gallery/Art Handling/Installation, Hampden Gallery, University of
                         Massachusetts
2009               Sailing the Barbary Coast, Colin Matthes and Anthony Smith, 
                         Curator, Central Gallery, University of  Massachusetts, Amherst, 
                         MA