Jenni Crain (1991–2021) was a New York-based artist, writer, and curator. She received her BFA in Sculpture from Pratt Institute in 2013, and her master’s degree in Curatorial Studies at CCS Bard in 2021. In 2012 she completed an exchange program at Central Saint Martins in London. Crain was the director of kaufmann repetto in New York from 2016 to 2019 and, in 2021, was appointed director at Miguel Abreu Gallery. She co-founded and co-directed Topless, a seasonal gallery based in Rockaway Beach, New York, from summer 2014 to 2016. Crain was the founder and organizer of O.O. & M.M. (Only Once & Many More), an ongoing curatorial project that encouraged adaptability and deviation from standardized models of exhibition making. Her estate is represented by Gordon Robichaux in New York.

As an artist, Crain’s work has been the subject of solo presentations at Gordon Robichaux, New York (2022, 2019: two-person with Miles Huston); Kerry Schuss Gallery, New York, in cooperation with Gordon Robichaux, New York (2022); Hessel Museum of Art, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, curated by Eduardo Andres Alfonso (2022); Baba Yaga, Hudson, New York (2018); 321 Gallery, Brooklyn (2017); The Java Project, Brooklyn (2015); and Y Gallery, New York (2015).

The artist’s work has been included in group exhibitions at Daniel Faria Gallery, Toronto (2024); Pumice Raft, Toronto (2021); La MaMa Galleria, New York, curated by Sam Gordon (2021); Parker Gallery, Los Angeles (2020); OCTAGON x Maroncelli, Milan, curated by Jacopo Mazzetti and Matt Paweski (2019); Gordon Robichaux, New York (2018); ZAX, Brooklyn (2016); KANSAS, New York (2016); Torrance Shipman, Brooklyn (2016); Ray Smith Studio, Brooklyn (2015); and Artist Curated Projects, Los Angeles (2014); among others.

Crain’s art and curatorial projects have been featured in The New York Times, Artforum, and New York Magazine, among others.

She curated exhibitions, including Synonyms for Sorrow at Gordon Robichaux, New York (2022) and Charim Schleifmühlgasse, Vienna (2021); Kate Millett: Terminal Piece at the Hessel Museum of Art, CCS Bard, Annandale-on-Hudson (2021); Tee A. Corinne: Selections from the Lesbian Herstory Archives at Midway Contemporary Art, Minneapolis (2020); Tee Corinne: Bodies of Work at MBnb, New York (2019); March Avery at Barnard College, New York (2019); as well as exhibitions at Kim? Contemporary Art Center, Riga; SORT, Vienna; 55 Walker (operated by Bortolami Gallery, Andrew Kreps Gallery, and kaufmann repetto), New York; Pratt Institute, Brooklyn; and Shanaynay, Paris; among others.

Crain contributed texts and essays to a range of publications, including the catalog of the 58th Carnegie International (on Kate Millet, 2023); The Wattis Institute Library (2020); F Magazine (2020); Aperture PhotoBook Review (2019); and for Blum & Poe, New York (on March Avery, 2019).

Crain led lectures and discussions at CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, where she was Curatorial Fellow in 2020; Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD); Bard College; Pratt Institute; and Westreich Wagner.

Her website includes a comprehensive list of her curatorial projects and exhibition history, as well as images and information documenting many of her artworks: www.jennicrain.com.

The Jenni Crain Foundation preserves the artist’s legacy by supporting transformative projects by artists, curators, and writers of any age at early or pivotal stages of their career. For more information: www.jennicrainfoundation.org.