Jesse Rinyu

215-301-4635

jrinyu@gmail.com

Artist’s Statement

My goal is to create challenging, dialectic work, regardless of medium. While I enjoy bright colors, I often sway between the drama of black and white and the celebration of ice cream-truck color palettes. My heart belongs to the esoteric, the discarded, the resurrected. I love to fabricate out of scraps and reference the obsolete. I want to make those things meaningful again.

2025

POST at Pilote Studios (Cardboard/Glue/Paint/Zine/Electronics)

 Myself and colleague Christie Spisak built a large cardboard wall sculpture spelling the phrase “SOMETIMES I REMEMBER OBLIVION” (my design). The letters are individual pieces meant to spell different words or phrases and will be used in future endeavors. Included in the show was my build of a circuit-modded Casio PT100 which functions as a light-sensitive theremin, running through effects pedals. I opened my studio space to another artist, and offered my previous Zine as well.

2024

THE POETRY GUMBAL MACHINE ROBOT (Woodworking/Fabrication/Painting)

This is a sculptural wooden robot gumball machine that dispenses walnut shells. When opened, the walnut shells contain a poem by the poet and activist LindoYes, as well as information for mental health awareness and resources, a cause close to my heart. We had the opening and performance night for this project on April 22nd, and the Robot lives at the Museum for Art in Wood.

2022

FUTURE CONDOS & essays regarding suicide (Photography/Writing/Graphic Design)

A zine published about Port Richmond, Philadelphia, shot on film and written about my adventures and personal trauma in said neighborhood. Raised $500 for The Trevor Project.

Listen to the review here (https://allthroughalenscom.wordpress.com/2021/11/30/murder-vs-death-books-of-crime-scene-photos-w-jon-hilty/)

2020

RUSTIC DESK (Woodworking/Sculpture)

A desk built with salvaged live edge barn lumber. Built by hand with NO power tools, using methods similar to ancient Roman techniques. Currently resides at a private residence. Garnered me a role as Fabricator at the venerable FKB Studio.

2019

ALTER/ANALOG MAGAZINE (Publishing/Graphic Design/Art Direction)

A team project with Tania Kaaz, we started an Online and print publication focused on alternative process film photography, featuring lesser-known artists.

(https://www.alter-analog.com/)

2017

COFFEE.TABLE.BOOK. (Photography/Writing/Graphic Design)

A zine published about Caffenol film developing (the process of using coffee to develop film). This zine contains a series of images and writings about how to achieve this. This led to me teaching a workshop at United By Blue in West Philadelphia.

2013

HERO COMPLEX GALLERY Weapon of Choice Show (Digital Illustration)

I Illustrated a small Dr. Who piece for the LA show in 2013.

2012

INFUSION GALLERY May 2012(Painting)

I displayed a series of new and old paintings and had musical performances on opening night.

2009

MAINLINE ARTS CENTER One Night Stand – February 6th (Painting)

A one-night art show wherein all artists are allowed to show three pieces. Winner(s) gain the ability to keep the winning pieces at the gallery for one month. I was one of two winners.

2008

PHILADELPHIA CITY PAPER Cover “Don’t Run, I Love You” (Digital Illustration)

I was asked to recreate one of my most popular paintings into a digital format to fit the cover of August 2008’s Comics Issue for the Philadelphia City Paper.

2002 - 2008

THE BIG ART SHOW (Painting)

I traveled the country with a troupe of artists setting up shows in various art galleries and other venues, displaying and making art in a live setting. This entailed both displaying my premade paintings, and often making new pieces (small and large) on the fly. We traveled from Philadelphia to Austin, TX, stopping at cities along the way.

2006

ZONK ARTS GALLERY January 2-15 (Painting)

I displayed a four-painting exhibit at the Zonk Arts Gallery on South 5th Street in South Philadelphia. It can be read about here (https://www.thereporteronline.com/2006/01/02/jesse-rinyu-brings-robotics-to-art-2/)

2005

JUXTAPOSE MAGAZINE (Painting)

2005, the magazine featured my painting “The Peaceful Spread of Democracy”.