Meet Jacqueline Evadne | Ceramicist, Painter, Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jacqueline Evadne and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jacqueline, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Full disclosure: I am lucky enough to be able to pursue a creative career that funds my art. I write for a living, which I love, but my true passion has always been working with my hands—painting, sketching, throwing, sculpting, carving. I spend hours in the studio each week, bringing my visions to life.

My walls are covered with vibrantly colored canvases, and my cabinets burst with my handmade ceramics. Because it’s such an integral part of who I am as a person, I can’t imagine a life where I didn’t pursue art in some way.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Regardless of the medium, what sets my art apart is a palpable sense of whimsy. As a painter, I achieve this both through abstract works that allow me full freedom of expression and through my surreal approach to still life. I’m known for my playful series depicting different kinds of fruit floating in space, but I’ve also developed an entire body of work inspired by the ceramic glazing process. Within my ceramic practice, I explore the intersection of function and beauty—using not only the wheel to create precise and useful pieces, but also employing handbuilding techniques to imbue each with a unique flair. In both mediums—clay and paint—I enhance the ordinary with joy and a sense that, if you just look closely enough, you’ll see that there’s beauty in every moment.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am a Virginia-Highland girl, through and through, so, of course, I would take them to all my favorite local spots throughout the week. We’d grab coffee at San Francisco Coffee Company on North Highland. (Shoutout to Leo Hollen for hosting so many of my art shows there!) And a tour of VaHi is not complete without a walk down to Virginia Highland Books, where we’d snag something to read before heading over to John Howell Park to bask in the sun and dig into our books. I wouldn’t let them miss out on Ocean Wave—the best sushi in town, in my humble opinion. Too full to move? The next stop is a no-brainer; we’d see what’s playing at the Plaza Theatre and settle into the coziest moviegoing experience known to man. To round out the perfect week, we would order the world’s best drunken man noodles at La Moon before checking out the cool arts programming that the Supermarket surely has to offer. There’s always something magical happening in this neighborhood.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are countless mentors, teachers, friends, and fellow travelers along the way who have shaped me into the artist I am today—not least of all my loving, supportive parents. If I could, I would list every single person and recount how they added color to my life. But all of those colors pale in comparison to the one person who has been my most steadfast supporter, the one who makes every gallery exhibition feel like the very first, the one who witnesses my underpaintings and helps me hang the finished pieces on the wall. He is my favorite tradition and the one to whom I owe so much for helping me make my dreams come true. Logan Porter, I would not be here without you.

Website: https://jacquelineevadne.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacquelineevadneart/