Jenn Wilner is the library's inaugural Artist-in-Residence. Join us for an informal conversation with Jenn Wilner, and learn about her journey to becoming an artist. Moderated by Darrin Owens, President of the Westfield Art Association.

A BFA graduate in Communications Design at the Syracuse University School of Visual and Performing Arts, Wilner had a 25+ year career as a graphic/web designer.

She was nominated for an ADDY Award by Ad Week for the work she did with the “I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter” campaign for her website design work and illustrations. She was an early adopter of the Internet and was one of the first Internet Art Directors in the NYC advertising world. Some of the other clients she worked with were Coca-Cola, Unilever, MasterCard, Tiffany & Co. and L’Oreal.

Since leaving the corporate world, and starting her own Graphic and web design firm, White Wave Graphics, Wilner has been involved with multiple artistic activities in Westfield. She created a five-year Art Appreciation program for Tamaques Elementary School, with each presentation featuring a well-known artist or art movement with audio/visual aids and step-by-step project instructions and supplies.

Her artwork is displayed in many public spaces, including the Tamaques Park Pavilion, and a painting of hers is currently part of the Westfield Central Avenue Public Art exhibition.

In July of 2020, her butterfly design was included in “Art Takes Flight,” an exhibition of 30 fiberglass butterflies displayed around downtown Westfield. After being displayed for several months, a few were chosen to be auctioned to raise money for future public art projects. Wilner’s butterfly, “Hearts in Flight,” generated the highest bid of all the butterflies at the auction.

She recently had an art show at CASA by Cherry Home in Westfield, and she is also a partner in a 501(c)(3) charity called The Birthday Box, which gives birthday parties in a box to children in need.

Wilner strives “not only to create works of art that make me happy, but to use color and pattern to share with others that same sense of joy I have in my soul when I create,” says a statement on Jennifer’s website. “I want people to feel happiness when they enter a room containing one of my pieces.”