Jes Reyes works out of Little House Studio, an attic space in St. Paul that she has created to concentrate, explore, and make. She is an interdisciplinary artist, artist organizer, and teaching artist practicing in mixed media art, textiles, video, and more. Her artwork is rooted in play, vulnerability, experimentation, collaboration, and the blending of disciplines. She has exhibited and screened her artwork throughout Minnesota. An extension of Jes’s art practice is in community organizing and resource building for artists. Art for her is a way to bring people together. It's a lifestyle.
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Jes has a long history of supporting individuals with disabilities and blending her background in social services with arts and culture. Building partnerships and embracing collaboration have been essential to this work. Most recently she was the Art Supervisor at Fresh Eye Arts, a progressive art studio for artists with disabilities, and a program of MSS. In this role, she collaborated with her team to supervise the program’s studio practices, art employment services, and exhibitions at Fresh Eye Gallery, an intentional inclusive art space, located in South Minneapolis (2021-2023). Prior to Fresh Eye she ran Avivo ArtWorks, where she managed their multifaceted art studio program supporting artists living with mental illness (2014-2021). Currently, Jes is an Arts Program Manager for COMPAS managing their Artful Aging and Access Arts programs.
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Jes has been an Artist Career Consultant with Springboard for the Arts since 2017 and founded Moonplay Cinema in 2019, an artist-run project supporting and advocating for gender-marginalized filmmakers. She has a BA in Women’s Studies and Film and Electronic Arts (double major) from California State University, Long Beach. She holds a Master of Liberal Studies from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She has a love for her family and pets, nerding out at art museums, traveling, and gardening. Jes grew up in Southern California and moved to Minnesota in 2005. Jes identifies as queer, feminist, and punk.
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Jes released You're a Filmmaker, You're an Artist recently, a professional practices publication for moving image creators. Get your copy here: https://www.moonplaycinema.org/store/p3/Youreafilmmaker.html​

Jes Reyes is a fiscal year 2023 & 2024 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. ​This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Photos by Caitlin Nightingale