Spotlight Artist

Jennie Ottinger

Pacific Coast
Artist profile photo
Featured in New American Paintings

Artist Statement

My current work is about women. I focus on cheerleading squads and sororities, two groups that tend to be considered frivolous or vapid for a variety of reasons, some valid and some not. I exaggerate femininity to highlight the common perception that anything with women as the main participants is regarded (consciously or not) as less important or less serious than typically male pursuits.

These groups also present complications for feminism, though in fact both organizations were started or vastly expanded by women when there were few, if any, options for women. I acknowledge that it can be challenging to sympathize with cheerleaders and sorority members, who are generally associated with privilege, but these contradictions and gray areas are what I find most compelling and worthy of exploration.

Discover more artists from the Pacific Coast

THE MAGAZINE

Explore our magazine to discover exceptional artists

Open magazine with text, modern illustrations, and a list of artists on a pink background.
View issues

Call for Artists

Submit your work for consideration

New American Paintings is a juried exhibition-in-print and digital, presenting the work of 40 emerging artists in each issue.

View competitions

Your gateway to new art

Discover tomorrow's art stars, today

Two books on a wooden table with a modern decorative sculpture in the background.

PRINT + EARLY ACCESS DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION

$179/YEAR

DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION

$99/YEAR OR $10/MONTH

Each issue of New American Paintings features forty artists selected through our juried competitions—presented in a beautifully curated, full-color publication. Subscribers receive six issues per year, plus exclusive online access to current and past editions. Are you a collector? Consider our premium subscription and receive our museum-quality printed publication + access to each new digital issue two weeks before its general release.