multidisciplinary artist
Jane R Willson
Multimedia artist and writer exploring the intersection of mythology, culture, and contemporary issues.
Background
Jane R. Willson is a San Francisco-based multimedia artist whose work spans painting, installation art, and narrative projects. Her exhibitions often combine historical research with contemporary themes, creating immersive experiences that invite viewers to engage with cultural myths and their lasting impact.
Raised by two mothers—one from rural Iowa, one from a Canton village—Willson absorbed diverse cultural perspectives on womanhood from an early age. This unique upbringing informs her exploration of gender, mythology, and cultural codes in her artistic practice.
Her work has been exhibited at prestigious venues including San Francisco City Hall, the San Francisco Main Public Library, Studio 355, and Levy Art and Architecture.
Professional Affiliations
I'm a member of the celebrated Howard Munson's Book Arts Salon in San Francisco (by invitation only), San Francisco Center for the Book, San Francisco Women's Political Committee, Community advocate for San Francisco's Mission District 9 pool, San Francisco Recreation and Parks Aquatics Advisory Board.
From managing exhibitions and commissions to leveraging public art creating dialogues about civic processes, Jane navigates her career with clarity and purpose.
Artistic Vision
"I view our fairytales as cultural tapestries, wholly quixotic, inspired by our elemental human nature," Willson explains. Her work explores the patterns woven through stories across centuries—how old threads remain, casting archaic shadows on our contemporary psyches.
Her projects often begin with questions rather than answers: Why does Rapunzel prevail while the tale of Bluebeard fades? How do new tale elements get added or subtracted to reshape stories? What cultural relics, dated mores, remain embedded in our fairytales even when rewritten for contemporary times?
Beyond mythology, Willson addresses environmental and social issues through her art. Projects like "Cozy Planet" and "Paintings of a Red Forest" demonstrate her commitment to using art as a vehicle for awareness and change.
As a businesswoman, she has built a sustainable and evolving creative enterprise that reflects the same intentionality as her artwork. She understands the art world as a dynamic ecosystem—one that requires strategy, adaptability, and vision.
This dual perspective—artist and entrepreneur—allows her to maintain creative independence while expanding the reach of her work. She approaches her business with the same curiosity that drives her art: testing, refining, and evolving over time.
At the core of everything Jane creates is a commitment to narrative. She uncovers them through research, through process, and through the quiet act of paying attention. Her work invites viewers into that space of discovery, where meaning is not fixed, but continually unfolding.
Awards, Grants & Recognition
2023 Best in Show: The First Annual Edible Architecture Competition: San Francisco Bernal Heights Mason Kirby Architect’s city-wide edible architecture competition, where I took first place for my edible oil well, made from Middle Eastern food stuffs, including a melon, Turkish- gelatin, fettuccini and spaghetti pasta
2022 Puffin Foundation Grant: An artist’s grant for an exhibition that explores climate change and mythology from the Puffin Foundation, located in Teaneck, New Jersey.
2019 ArtSpan: San Francisco, SF Open Studios Artspan Amplify: Juror’s Choice Award for my portrait, “Olympia,” in an exhibition featuring 400+ artist’s works.
2018 San Francisco Beautiful: organization’s Artist Award for the winning “AT&T Utility Box” design for San Francisco’s Castro District. Final art was printed large-scale, then wrapped around eight Castro District utility boxes.
2011 Puffin Foundation Grant: An artist’s grant for “Not So Little Red Riding Hood,” an exhibit at the Main San Francisco Public Library, from the Puffin Foundation, located in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Selected Group Exhibitions
EXHIBIT DESIGN/CURATION
2011 – 2019 Designed six public exhibitions to illuminate the role folk and fairytales play in
shaping contemporary views of identity worldwide. Projects included exhibit concept/design,
research, proposals, painting, graphics, writing, signage and installation.
PUBLICATIONS
Artist Books: Eight hand-made books that explore new works in line, ink, oil, acrylic, mixed media and
newmedia painting:
2015 Imaginary Beings: Paintings in Pixels and Wood (A show catalog highlighting 44 images from Jane
R. Willson's 2015 "Imaginary Beings" mixed media exhibition).
2014 Grandaunt Tiger: A Chinese Folktale
2006 Six Sisters: Studies in Watercolor and Oil (unique)
2004 The Nelson A. Rockefeller Collection: Museum of Primitive Emotions (unique)
2003 Line Dancing (unique)
2002 The Private Life of Helen of Troy, (Edition 2)
2001 Cafe Faces (unique)
1999 Territorio de Partefegunda (unique)
Artist Portfolio Calendars
Seven hand-made art calendars which explore unique ways to feature an
artist’s portfolio through calendar design.
2010 Of The Roots of Fairy Tales, (edition: 100)
2009 Janae's Nautralis Historiae (edition: 60)
2007 Pax Romana (edition: 15)
2006 The Secret Lives of Leaves (edition: 5)
2005 Painted Faces
2005 Printed Faces,
2005 Painted Beasts: A Bestiary