Valerie Jenkins

Valerie Jenkins is the Chair of Art Practice at the College for Creative Studies (CCS), Detroit. She holds an MFA from the University of Minnesota and a BFA from Grand Valley State University. Her work spans painting, drawing, digital imagery, and sculpture, emphasizing tactile materiality and the interplay between stasis/movement and perception/meaning. Her practice explores urban environments and cultural contexts through a poetic lens.

Education:

• MFA, University of Minnesota
• BFA, Grand Valley State University

Research Interests: Jenkins investigates the sensory and psychological dimensions of art objects, blending observation, responsiveness, and play. Her work interrogates the dynamics of daily life and urban spaces, creating visceral connections between material form and conceptual meaning.

Awards & Grants:

• McKnight Foundation Grant
• Minnesota State Arts Board Fellowship
• National Endowment for the Arts Grant

Teaching & Leadership: With 25+ years of teaching experience, Jenkins has instructed at institutions including Macalester College, University of Minnesota, and Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She previously served as Chair of the Fine Arts Department at the College of Visual Arts.

Exhibitions & Recognition: Her work is in the Weisman Art Museum collection and has been featured in New American Painting and the International Drawing Annual.