Jaanika Peerna is an Estonian-born artist and educator living and working in New York since 1998. Her work encompasses drawing, installation, and performance, often dealing with the theme of transitions in light, air, water and other natural phenomena. For her performances, she often involves the audience in participatory reflection on the current climate meltdown. Her art practice stems from the corporeal experience of our existence and reaches towards enhanced awareness of the fragility, interconnectedness and wonder of all life.
She has exhibited her work and performed extensively in the entire New York metropolitan area as well as in Berlin, Paris, Tallinn, Barcelona, Venice, Moscow, Dubai, Sydney, Canberra, Montreal, and Cologne. Her work is in numerous private collections in the USA and Europe and is part of the Fonds National d’Art Contemporain, Paris. Her performance Glacier Elegy was recently acquired by the Glyn Vivian Museum in the UK. Her work is represented in the USA by JHB Gallery and ARC Fine Art and globally by IdeelART. She was awarded the FID Grand Prize in 2016 for her work in drawing, and she has been a teaching artist at the Dia Art Foundation for many years. Peerna currently works as cultural attaché for Estonia in New York.
"I make drawings, videos and installations. My elements are line and light; my materials are pencils, vellum and video camera. I am a vessel gathering subtle and rapturous processes in nature, using the experiences and impulses to make my work. I record mist turning into water. I use slowly changing lights to cast shadows of mylar strips onto a wall—The slowness of shadows makes one wonder if there is any change at all. I let wind move my body so that it leaves traces on paper. I swim through thousands of layers of gray air and mark each one down. Most of my work is born in the solitude of my studio. Sometimes public performances with musicians and dancers draw me out from the safe silence of my space and expand my drawing practice with sound and movement. I am interested in the never-ending process of becoming with no story, no beginning, no end—just the current moment in flux."
—Jaanika Peerna
CV
Solo exhibitions
2021/22 "For Consolation..." Haus Gallery
2019 “Cold Love”, Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT
2018 “Liustike Eleegia / Glacier Elegy”, Artdepoo Gallery and Vana-Wõromaa Cultural Center, Estonia
2016 “Not So Silent Waves of Gravity”, Espronceda Center for Art and Culture, Barcelona
2015 “Jaanika Peerna”, Woodstock Artists Association and Museum, Woodstock, NY
2015 “Light Matter”, Hillyer Art Space, Washington DC
2015 “Light Matter” (catalogue), Kentler International Drawing Space, New York
2015 “Emerge.Submerge”, SG Gallery, Venice, Italy
2014 “Exercises for Lines”, Vaal Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2014 “Avanzare, Arretrare”, Rimini Drawing Biennial, Primo Piano Gallery, Rimini, Italy
2014 “Etenee – Vetäytyy”, Aarni Gallery, Espoo, Finland
2014 “Avanzare e Arretrare”, Ninapi Gallery, Ravenna, Italy
2013 “Vanishing Silence”, BeArt, Garrison, NY
2011 “Jaanika Peerna: drawings and videos”, Estonian Embassy, Washington DC
2010 “Edges of Wind and Light”, A.R.C. Fine Art, Fairfield, CT
2010 “Tuule äär/Windedge”, ArtDepoo Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2009 “Traces of a Sweet Connect”, Go North Gallery, Beacon, NY
2005 “Murmuring Beneath”, Thesis Show, Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, SUNY New Paltz
2003 “Climate of Sight,” Collaborative Concepts, Beacon, NY
2002 “Light Between Lines and Bits,” Linna (City) Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2002 “Lines in Silence,” Garrison Art Center, Garrison, NY
2001 “Jooned vaikuses”, Art Academy Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2000 “Jaanika Peerna: photos and drawings”, Estonian House, New York, NY
selected group exhibitions
2020 (Aug-Oct) group exhibition on climate issues, curataed by Karen Levitov, Staller Center for the Arts, SUNY Stony Brook, NY
2019 “FLOW/FLUX/FOLD”, curated by Grigori Fateyev, Turn Park Art Space, West Stockbridge, MA
2019 “Kevadnäitus”, Tallinn Art Hall, Tallinn Estonia
2019 “Art of Fire, Art of Ice”, curated by Timothy Blunk, Gallery Begenm Bergen, NJ
2018 “Transitions”, curated by Michael Kukla, Madison Ave Project Art Space, New York
2018 “FLAT???”, curated by William Stover, Kentler International Drawing Space, Brooklyn, NY
2018 “The Possibilties of Line”, curated by Valerie McKenzie, McKenzie Gallery, New York
2018 “Explorations in Line,” curated by Tamar Zinn, Garrison Art Center, New York
2018 “Envisioning Natural Forces,” curated by Patricia Zarate, Key Projects, New York
2018 “These Waters Have Stories to Tell,” curated by Celina Jeffery, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea, UK
2018 “VIIVA/ LINE”, curated by Katja Hagelstam, Lokal, Helsinki
2017 “The Object in Motion,” curated by Jayne Baum, JHB Gallery, PULSE Miami Beach, FL
2017 “Bigger, Bolder, Better”, Chashama, 760 Vanderbuilt, Brooklyn, NY
2016 “The Topography of Language: Re-Reading Drawing in the Twenty-First Century”, curated by Jayne Baum, JHB Gallery, PULSE Miami Beach Art Fair, FL
2016 “Language of Patterns”, curator Virginia Walch, Ann Street Gallery, Newburgh, NY
2016 “Consul Art”, Maison de l’Artisanat et des Metres d’Art, Marseille, France (catalogue)
2015 “Art Centra”, art fair, Hong Kong with gallery M Contemporary, Sydney
2015 “Drawers Draw”, curated by Alison Pierz, Galerie Protegé, New York
2015 “Drawn to Experience V2”, curated by Kellie O’Dempsey, POP Gallery, Queensland College of Art, Brisbane and National University of Australia, Canberra
2015 Works on Paper, M Contemporary, Sydney, Australia
2015 “Line Describing a Cone”, curated by Eva Respini (MOMA), Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah, NY
2014 “Ellipse”, curated by Erin Lawlor and Katrin Bremerman, A3 Gallery, Moscow
2014 “Mein Lustgarten”, curated by Chen Yang, Wie Kultur, Berlin
2014 “Am Rand” (drawing and performance), Jää-äär, Berlin
2013 “Falls of Solitude” (installation), Manalo Projects, Berlin
2013 “Tallinn Light Art Biennial”, (video installation), Architecture Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2013 “A-Line-Ment”, Gallery66NY, Cold Spring, NY
2013 “The Silence of Forest Sounds”, with Tuuli Mann, Haus Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2013 Curatoral project by Inga Heamägi, Kaliningrad Graphic Art Biennial of the Baltic Sea Countries, Kaliningrad, Russia
2013 “Drawn to Experience” (drawing and video), curated by Kellie O’Dempsey, Queensland College of Art, Brisbane, Australia
2013 “In Our Backyard”, curated by Heige Kim, Roos Arts, Rosendale, NY
2013 “Elegy”, curated by Eleni Smolen, Theo Ganz Studio, Beacon, NY
2013 “Timelines”, curated by Karlyn Benson, Mattewan Gallery, Beacon, NY
2013 “Park: Toivo Raidmets ja Jaanika Peerna” (wall drawings), Architecture and Design Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2012 “A Question of Slow”, curated by Alison Pierz, Skylight Gallery, New York
2012 Estonian Curatorial Project, curator Inga Heamägi, Novosibirsk Graphic Art Triennial, Novosibirsk, Russia (catalogue, First Prize)
2012 “CUT #2”, curated by Gregory Kepinski, Museum of Imagination, Hudson, NY
2012 “Slow Art Room” (drawing and installation), Governor’s Island Art Fair, New York
2012 ‘Drawing – Freedom”, curated by Maria-Kristiina Ulas (performance), Gallery for Architecture and Design, Tallinn, Estonia
2012 “A Border, Path, Threshold”, curated by Margot Kask, Viinistu Art Museum Chapel, Estonia
2012 “Silent Revolution”, curated by Anu Juurak, Tallinn Art Hall, Estonia (catalogue)
2012 “Smoke Free Fall”, curated by Ginger Shulick, Fountain Art Fair, NYC
2012 “CUT”, curated by Gregory Kepinski, Museum of Imagination, Hudson, NY
2012 “Napp” (video, drawing), curated by Margot Kask, City Gallery, Pärnu, Estonia
2011 “Harilik/Ordinary:drawing practices III”, curated by Margot Kask, pART Gallery, Põltsamaa, Estonia
2011 “Liberte/Vabadus 2011”, curated by Kaia Kiik, Asnières Chateau, Paris, France
2011 “Summer Selections”, curated by Adrienne Conzelman, ARC Fine Art, Fairfield. CT
2011 “Selects”, Beacon Arts Shortwave Gallery, Stone Harbor, NJ
2011 Lumen video and performance festival, curated by Ginger Schulick, Staten Island waterfront, New York
2011 “Harilik/Ordinary: drawing practices II”, curated by Margot Kask, Y Gallery, Tartu, Estonia
2011 International Paper Art Biennial, curated by Thalia Vrachopoulos, City Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
2011 Harilik/Ordinary:drawing practices I, curated by Margot Kask, Kunstihoone Galerii, Tallinn, Estonia
2010 Light Art Biennial, artP.kunstverein, Perchtoldsdorf and Lintz, Austria
2010 “Archipelago”, Dorsky Curatorial Projects; Brooklyn, NY
2010 Roma Art Fair, Metropolart; Marco Testaccio, Rome, Italy
2010 Herning International Video festival, Arhus, Denmark
2010 Video Art Biennial, curated by Mamia Breteche, Metropolart; Paris; Portfolio Gallery, Dubai
2010 Annual Benefit Show, Kentler International Drawing Center, Brooklyn, NY
2009 “Unsettled Conditions”, curated by Karin Laansoo, Monospace, Brooklyn, NY
2009 “Plastic Waves”, collaborative installation :Susan English and Jaanika Peerna, Gillette Gallery, Garrison Art Center, Garrison, NY
2009 “WET: videos on Water”, Maxwell Fine Arts, Peekskill, NY
2009 “Sublime”, Zero Filme, R.Sao Filipe Nery, nr 25B, Lisbon, Portugal
2009 “Slow News International”, curated by Peggy Cyphers / Broadthinking, The ARTS at Marks Garage, Honolulu, HI
2009 “Revisions” (drawings), Galerie Lavignes-Bastille, Paris, France
2009 “H20:Film on Water” (video); curated by Cynthia Reeves, Reeves Gallery in New York City’ The Mill Art Space, Newport, NH
2009 “FUTURE=FERTILE” (video); curated by Leo Kuelbs, LKC, New York
2009 “BROADTHINKING”, Bridge Art Fair, New York, NY (supported in part with funds from SOS program through NYFA and NYSCA administered by GAC)
2009 “Out of the Blue”, (weather and creative process); curated by Amy Lipton, Joy Episalla and Joy Garnett; Bergen Community College, Paramus, NJ
2009 International Juried Exhibition, Juror Adelina Vlas, Assistant Curator, Philadelphia Museum of Art, NJ Visual Art Center, Summit, NJ
2008 The Works International Visual Arts Festival (videos), curated by Shawn Pinchbeck, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
2008 “NEW” (drawings), curated by Paul Kahn, Galerie Lavignes-Bastille, Paris, France (supported in part with funds from SOS program through NYFA and NYSCA)
2008 National Juried Exhibition, Juror: Ester Adler, curatorial assistant at Department of Drawings, Museum of Modern Art, NY, Phoenix Gallery, New York, NY
2008 Regional Triennial “The Camera Always Lies,” curated by Beth Wilson, Center for Photography at Woodstock, Woodstock, NY
2008 “What Happens Next?” Video shorts, curated by Bart Woodstrup, Time Space Limited, Hudson ,NY
2008 “Fugue” (videos and drawings) curated by Patricia Miranda and Patricia Spergel, Miranda Fine Arts, Port Chester, NY
2008 “Paradox of Water,” juried by Mary Sabbatino, Vice President and Partner of Galerie Lelong in New York City, Westport Art Center, Westport, CT
2008 “Abstract ( ? )” (video), Van Brunt Gallery, Beacon, NY
2007 “Code in Art,” SLSA Code Conference, Portland, Maine
2007 “Silence Increased,” Chapman Gallery, University of Salford, Manchester, UK
2007 “Ecological Integrity,” curated by Alice Wexler, Muroff Kotler Gallery Ulster County Community College, Stone Ridge, NY
1996-1998 director of fine art program, Collegium Educationis Revaliae, Tallinn, Estonia
1992-1996 teacher of fine art, Collegium Educationis Revaliae, Tallinn, Estonia
professional experience
2017 ongoing Cultural Affairs Coordinator, Consulate General of Estonia in New York
2016 guest juror for FID Prize in Drawing
2006-2016 exhibition curator, New York Estonian Educational Society, SkyLight Gallery, Masters and Pelavin Gallery
2016 consultant and event organizer, Estonian Foundation of Arts and Letters NYC
films
2008 “Art Out of Longing and Song,” 18 minutes, Directed by Jaanika Peerna, edited by Michael Enright
2008 “Drawing Revealed,” 35 minutes, Directed by Jaanika Peerna, produced by Susan English (supported in part with funds from SOS program through NYFA and NYSCA). Shown at the Rome International Film Festival.
2006 “Art in Dialogue; Estonia-New York” 46 minutes. Directed by Annette Solakoglu, co-produced by Jaanika Peerna. Shown at the Pärnu International Film Festival, Estonia
awards
2017 Distinguished Alumnae, Tallinn University, Estonia
2016 FID Grand Prix 2016, international drawing award, president of the jury Brett Littmann, Drawing Center NYC
2015 Award for active cultural leadership, presented by the Council of Foreign Consulates of New York
2014 APT Fellowship for one month residency and exhibition at Scuola Di Grafica, Venice
2013 Third Prize, State Competition for public art at Viljandi Gümnaasium, Estonia
2012 Drawing Award, Tallinn International Drawing Triennial, Tallinn, Estonia
2012 Drawing Award, Novosibirsk Graphic Arts Triennial, Novosibirsk, Russia
2012 Cultural Endowment of Estonia [Kultuurkapital]
2010, 2011 Cultural Endowment of Estonia [Kultuurkapital]
2010, 2011 Special Opportunity Stipend, New York Foundation for the Arts
2009 Special Opportunity Stipend, New York Foundation for the Arts
2008 Third Prize, Paradox of Water exhibit at Westport Art Center, chosen by Mary Sabbatino of Galerie Lelong, New York and Paris.
2008 Cultural Endowment of Estonia [Kultuurkapital]
2008 Special Opportunity Stipend, New York Foundation for the Arts
2008 Arts Link, Putnam Arts Fund, NY USA
2007 Special Opportunity Stipend, New York Foundation for the Arts
2005 Research and Creative Projects Award, SUNY New Paltz
2004 Research and Creative Projects Award, SUNY New Paltz
solo and collaborative drawing performances
2020 (oct) “Glacier Elegy: Stony Brook”, Staller Center for the Arts, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY
2019 “Glacier Elegy: Hartford”, participatory performance, Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT
2019 “Classical Lines”, collaborative performance with Boston Symphony musicians, Turn Park Sculpture Park, West Stockbridge, MA
2018 “Liustike Eleegia/ Glacier Elegy (Tallinn-Võru)”, Artdepoo Gallery, Vana-Wõromaa Cultural Center, Estonia
2018 “Glacier Elegy (Swansea)”, Glynn Vivian Gallery, Swansea, UK
2017 “Glacier Elegy (New York)”, Rockland Center for the Arts, Nyack, NY
2017 “Extensions/Point_Centric”, with Agnieszka Karasch (concept, drawing), Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, New York
2017 “Glacier Elegy 2”, Salon b, Montreal
2016 “Echoes of a Castle. Louis Kahn”, with David Rothenberg (sound, text)
2016 “In This Drawn Out Space”, with Chris Moffett (drawing), David Rothenberg (sound), Five Myles, Brooklyn , NY
2016 “Balancing Act #45”, with Diina Tamm and Aurelius Anthony (movement), W34, New York
2016 “Glacier Elegy”,International Draw to Perform3 Symposium, London
2016 “Ripples of Gravity”,with Lucio Corrente (cello), Espronceda Center for Art and Culture, Barcelona
2016 “Upward”, Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, Peekskill, NY
2015 “Silencing Body”, with Timothy Hill (overtone singing), WAAM, Woodstock, NY
2015 “Inversions”, with Lucio Corrente (cello), Studio Wilson, New York
2015 “Light Matter”, with Alexis Steeves and Rain Saukas (movement), Kentler International Drawing Space, NY
2015 Collaborative performance with Kellie O’Dempsey (digital drawing), National University of Australia, Canberra
2015 Solo performance, M Contemporary, Sydney
2015 “Emerge.Submerge”, with Lucio Corrente (cello), SG Gallery, Venice, Italy
2014 “Linear Impetus”, Primo Piano galleria, Rimini Drawing Biennale, Rimini, Italy
2014 “Avanzare e Arretrare”, Ninapi Gallery, Ravenna, Italy
2014 “Mixed Media on Paper”, 4-person simultaneous drawing performance, Month of Performance Art Berlin at MPA-Hub, Berlin
2014 “Am Rand”, drawing performance on windows, Jää-äär, Berlin
2013 Transcontinental synchronous drawing "performance" Berlin–New York with Chris Moffett, International Drawing and Cognition Research Conference at Columbia University, New York, NY
2013 “The Silence of Forest Sounds”, video and live drawing performance with Tuuli Mann, Haus Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2013 “Vanishing Silence”, live drawing and dance performance with Jane Thornquist, BeArt, Garrison, NY
2012 “ Along the line”, live drawing and dance performance, with Laura Kvelstein, Gallery for Architecture and Design, Tallinn, Estonia
2012 “Living Line”, live drawing and dance performance, with Jane Thornquist, Estonian House, New York
2010 “Petroleum Wing”, video, dance and music performance, with Susan Osberg, Beacon Studios, Beacon, NY
2010 “Wind Edge”, live light installation and dance performance, dance by Jane Tornquist, ARC Fine Art Gallery, Fairfield, CT
2010 “Petroleum Wing”, live video, dance and sound performance, dance Susan Osberg, Beacon Studios, Beacon, NY
2010 “Tangitan”, live video and sound performance, sound by David Rothenberg, Dorsky Museum of Art, New Paltz, NY
2009 “Plastic Waves”, installation and dance performance, choreography and dance by Jane Thornquist, Gillette Gallery, GAC, Garrison, NY
2008 “ShadowStop,” video and music performance, live music by Hando Nahkur, Estonian House, New York
2007 “Air,” dance and video performance, choreography Susan Osberg, Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, Bard College, Annandale, NY
2006 “The Smoothness of Light,” artist book (photos), text by David Rothenberg
2006 “Window Palace,” artist book (photos), text by David Rothenberg
2006 “Krabattabark,” theatre piece (videos), directed by Jaanika Juhanson, Tallinn, Estonia
2006 “Water Veins,” live performance (videos), music by David Rothenberg, Cornelia Street Café, New York, NY
2006 “Movements on Water,” live performance (videos), music by David Rothenberg, Estonian House, New York, NY
2006 “Dancing on Water,” dance performance (videos), directed by S. Osberg, Bulldog Studios, Beacon, NY
2004 “Sonotype,” type and sound project, ongoing, with A. Papaelias
2003 “Fifteen Minutes of Freedom,” live performance (videos), music by Weekend Guitar Trio + D. Rothenberg, NYYD’03 Music Festival, Pärnu, Estonia
2002 “Living Line,” live music and video performance, music by Tunnetusüksus, International Theatre Festival, Rakvere, Estonia
2001 “Flow in Sound and Line” video and music performance; music by Tunnetusüksus, Performance Art Festival: Time, Space, Movement, Paide, Estonia
lectures and workshops
Drawing Acts in Performance, Glacier Elegy performance and conversation, Drawing Acts symposium conceived by Thinking Through Drawing, SUNY at New Paltz, New York
Line in Motion, all ages drawing and movement workshop, Saturday Studio, Dia:beacon, Beacon, NY, October 2018
These Waters Have Stories to Tell, symposium, moderated by Celina Jeffery/Ephemeral Coast, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea, UK, January 2018
Art and Movement, workshop, MayFest, Cold Spring, NY May 2016 and May 2017
From Absence to Presence, experiential tour, Dia: Beacon, Beacon, NY
Experimental Drawing, continuing education workshop for art teachers, Westchester Community College, White Plains, NY 2015
Artist Talk, Berlin Collective, Berlin June 2014
Artist Talk, Takt Artist Residency, Berlin, Germany, November 2013 and February 2014
“Connecting Art Practice and Teaching”, Tallinn University, Estonia, February 2013
“Light and Space as Substances in my Art Practice”, Estonian Academy of Art, February 2013
Experimental Art Lab, Garrison Art Center, NY, USA 2009 -2012
artworks are published
in Parabola magazine (1999),
The New Earth Reader (MIT Press, 1999), Writing on Water (MIT Press, 2001),
Cover of The Book of Music and Nature (Wesleyan University Press, 2001),
Photography Quarterly #92. (Center for Photography at Woodstock, 2006),
Five Fingers Review magazine (spring 2007), NEW Magazine (issue 4 / 2008)
Big Ode Magazine( Poesia & Imagen), Sublime Issue with DVD (Portugal, #7,Fall 2009)
Exquisite Corpse, exhibition catalogue, Paul Robeson Galleries (Nov. 2009)
East Coast Home and Design, magazine (Sept. 2010)
Roheline Värav /Green Gate: monthly culture-nature publication, Tallinn (November 2010)
Chinese Whispers, collaborative artist book, InEditMode Press, Malmö, Sweden (July 2011)
Tähelepanu, Valmis Olla, Kunst! textbook edited by Anu Purre, Tallinn, Estonia (August 2011)
Akadeemia: cultural monthy magazine, Tartu, Estonia (March 2012)
Joonistuskunsti Varasalvest, book on drawing traditions in Estonia from Mart Lepp’s collection (2012)
LUXE New York, Interior Design magazine, Summer 2012
work on file
Kentler International Drawing Space, Brooklyn, NY; Drawing Center, NY; Artists Space, NY; Museum of Modern Art’s Artist Files Archive; Haus Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia; A.R.C. Fine Art LLC, Fairfield, CT
collections:
numerous private collections in the US and Europe; Fonds National d’Art Contemporain, Paris; Garrison Art Center, New York; Novosibirsk Art Museum, Russia; Imago Mundi: Luciano Benetton Collection Italy, Artist Pension Trust
publications
“Estonia/Identity: Contemporary Artists from Estonia”, Luciano Benetton Collection, Fabrica, 2016
Jaanika Peerna: Storms and Silences, Terra Nova Press, NJ, 2015
“Black and White Project: a survey of contemporary black and white paintings”, Look and Listen, 2015
Peter Freed, “Prime: Reflections and Time and Beauty”, Peter Freed Photography, 2015
bibliography
Jonathan Goodman, Jaanika Peerna: Cold Love, exhibition review, Tussle Magazine, Nov 12 2019
B.L.Carlson, “Moving Marks”, Performance Art Journal, Winter 2017
Taney Roniger, “Translucency and Flux in the Work of Jaanika Peerna”, X Magazine for Contemporary Drawing #6, 2016
Taney Roniger, “Light Matter”, exhibition catalogue, Kentler International Drawing Space, February 2015
Heie Treier, “Just Like the Wind: Jaanika Peerna’s intricate Simplicity”, essay, “Jaanika Peerna: Storms and Silences” (artist monograph), February 2015
Fiona Robinson, “Drawing or Performance”, essay, “Jaanika Peerna: Storms and Silences” (artist monograph), February 2015
Riin Kübarsepp, “Joonte füüsiline mõnu”, exhibition review, Postimees, Estonian daily newspaper, Oct 10, 2014