Self portrait of the artist
Biography
Jessica Libor (b. 1987) is an American artist whose work explores themes of feminine identity and the transformative power of storytelling in the creation of personal mythology. She earned her Master of Fine Arts from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2014 and has pursued further classical training at the Grand Central Atelier and the Florence Academy of Art.
Based in Philadelphia, Libor has maintained an active studio practice since completing her MFA. Her artistic vision is deeply informed by narrative and symbolic traditions, drawing particular inspiration from global fairy tales—a recurring motif throughout her work. Artist residencies have played a pivotal role in this exploration; in 2022 and 2023, she participated in several residencies in Scotland and France, experiences that enriched her engagement with myth and folklore.
In 2023, Libor presented her work in two solo exhibitions: her international debut at La Serre Wangari in Paris, France, and a stateside show at Look Listen Gallery in Philadelphia, PA. She was also selected to exhibit in the SPRING/BREAK Art Show in New York City in 2025.
Her work is held in private collections internationally and has been exhibited in numerous institutions, including the Independence Seaport Museum, the Louisiana Art and Science Museum, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the Masonic Library and Museum. In addition to her visual art practice, she is the host of The Creative Heroine Podcast, where she explores the intersection of creativity, storytelling, and the feminine spirit.
Education
•Grand Central Atelier, New York, NY, 2018
•Master of Fine Arts, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 2014, Philadelphia, PA
•Florence Academy of Art, Florence, Italy, 2009
• Associate’s Degree, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA, 2006
Awards
• Audrey W. Dutton Memorial Award (awarded to Soft Sea & Pearly Sea and Sky) , Ocean City Arts Center, Ocean City, Nj, 2023
• Honorable Mention (awarded to Wild Things) , Rockport Art Association and Museum, Rockport, MA, 2021
• People’s Choice Award (awarded to Enchanted Cottage), The Whitemarsh Plein Air Competition, Conshohocken, PA, 2021
• 3rd Place Award (awarded to Enchanted Cottage), The Whitemarsh Plein Air Competition, Conshohocken, PA, 2021
• People’s Choice Award (awarded to Beside Green Pastures), The Whitemarsh Plein Air Competition, Conshohocken, PA, 2018
• 2nd Place award in Small Works (awarded to portrait of Ben), The Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA, 2016
• Studio Award, The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 2013
Museum / Institution
8th ANJE, Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, Wausau, WI, 2024
Amoureux de la Foret (Romanced by the Forest), La Serre Wangari, Paris, France, 2023
RAA&M National Juried Exhibition 2021, Rockport Art Association & Museum, Rockport, MA, 2021
Iridescence, Louisiana Art and Science Museum, Baton Rouge, LA, 2021
Summer Collection, Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA, 2021
The Grand Exhibition, Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania, PA, 2021
The New Pre-Raphaelites, for Harcum College, curated by Era Contemporary Gallery, 2020 - 2021
Faculty and Invited Alumni Show, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA, 2020
Let's Connect Philly, The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, PA, 2018
Alumni Exhibit, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA, 2018
Watercolor Remix, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA, 2017
Pop Party, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA, February 2016
Annual Student Exhibition MFA Thesis, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 2014
In the Shadow of a Masterpiece, Gallery 128 at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 2012
Drawn From PAFA, The Barbara Crawford Gallery at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Philadelphia, PA, 2011
SC Artists 2010 2D Fine Arts Exhibition, Spartanburg Museum of Art, Spartanburg, SC, 2010
Thirty First Annual Juried South Carolina Artists Competition, Pickens County Museum of Art and History, Pickens, SC, 2010
Anderson Arts Center’s 35th Annual Juried Show, Anderson, SC, 2010
Solo
Fantasia, Darlington Arts Center, Garnet Valley, PA, 2024
Amoureux de la Foret (Romanced by the Forest), La Serre Wangari, Paris, France, 2023
Preternatural, Tyler Arboretum, Media, PA, 2022
WILDLOVE, Era Contemporary Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 2021
The Mythical Sea, The Mill Studios Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 2020
Nature’s Daughters, Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA, 2019
Gardens of Delight, Bazemore Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 2016
Beauty Through Strength, JAG Fine Art, Philadelphia, PA, 2012
Dreams of Radiance, Art and Light Gallery, Greenville, SC, 2008
Group
Beyond the Violet Veil, SPRING/BREAK Art Show, 3 woman exhibition with Kristy Gordon and Victoria J. Fry, New York, NY, 2025
The Hamptons Fine Art Show, Southampton, NY, 2024
Titania’s Ball, Era Contemporary Gallery at the Tyler Arboretum, Media, PA, 2023
Dream a Little Dream, 33 Contemporary (online only), 2023
Abend Gallery 31st Annual Holiday Miniature Exhibit, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO, 2021-2022
8th Annual Benefit Exhibition, Bridgette Mayer Gallery, 2021
Self Portraits, 33 Contemporary (online only), 2021
The New Pre-Raphaelites: Illumination, Era Contemporary (online only), 2021
Dreamland, Art for Hearts curated by Ekaterina Popova (online only), 2021
Jessica Libor and Penny Hansen, The Cosmopolitan Club, Philadelphia, PA, 2021
Abend Gallery 30th Annual Holiday Miniature Exhibit, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO, 2020 - 2021
The Creator and the Muse, 33 Contemporary Gallery with Poets Artists, 2020 - 2021
Wish You Were Here, 33 Contemporary Gallery with Poets Artists, 2019 - 2020
Curls, 33 Contemporary Gallery with Poets Artists, 2019 - 2020
Knights and Monsters, Gristle Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 2020
La Femme, La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, CA, 2020
Trading Card Art Show III, Gristle Art Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 2019 - 2020
Movie Night, Ille Arts, 171 Main Street, Amagansett, NY, 2019
Small Beauties, Era Contemporary Gallery, New York, NY, 2018
Satellite Art Fair, Miami, FL, 2017
Stargarden, Era Contemporary Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 2017
A.I.R. Annual Postcard Exhibition, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 2016
Ballet X Benefit Exhibition, Bridgette Mayer Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 2014
Women in Charge, SOHO20 Gallery, New York, NY, 2013
One Hundred Dollars, Littlefield Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 2012
Travels and Far-Away Places, Art and Light Gallery, Greenville, SC, 2010
Press
Canvas Rebel, Life & Works with Jessica Libor, February 2025
American Art Collector, Wildlove, May 2021
The Vale Magazine, Jessica Libor Unveils New Work in Charity Show ‘WILDLOVE’, May 2021
The Times Herald, Mixed Mediums, March 2021
Philadelphia Style, 6 Inspirational Philly Women Artists to Follow on Instagram Now, September 2020
Hashtag Magazine, Q & A with Jessica Libor, August 2020
The Art Blog, The Artist in the Time of Coronavirus, June 2020
Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, Enchanted Portals Virtual Show, May 2020
GOSS183 Issue #107 for Poets Artists, October 2019
Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, Movie Night, September 2019
Self Made Strategies Podcast: Episode 26, the 5 Keys to Strategic Collaboration with Jessica Libor, August 2019
Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, July 2018
Create Magazine, The Feminine Spirit: Interview with Jessica Libor
American Art Collector, Editor’s Choice for Emerging Artists, April 2018
WHYY / PBS National TV Feature, Articulate with Jim Cotter, RIP Romance, October 2017
WHYY / PBS , The Blanc Goes On! August 2019
Philly Voice, Philly Artist Explores Beauty, August 2016
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Art Museum ‘Fall Into Street Art’ Fundraiser, 2015
DonArtNews, Jessica Libor Interview, 2014
Contact: jlibor@jessicalibor.com
Photo by Kerasan R. Lamar