Questions?
If you have questions about a piece of artwork you are considering, please contact me! I’m a real person and happy to discuss matting and framing options, tell you more about a painting, provide additional images, etc. Email is the best way to reach me: me@TeressaLJackson.com. Please note that I am not currently accepting commissions.
Biography
Growing up along the Ohio River near Louisville, Kentucky, Teressa Jackson spent her youth collecting rocks and painting portraits and imagined mountain landscapes. She earned a B.A. in studio art (painting emphasis) from Bellarmine University before spending 20 years working in Louisville’s nonprofit sector.
In 2016, she returned to her artistic roots, traveling throughout the western United States and the Caribbean for a year and creating more than 100 paintings along the way. That period of exploration led her to make her home in the west, first in Arizona, then in Orange County, California, and most recently in the historic coastal city of Monterey, where she now lives and works.
A self-proclaimed “desert rat” with a deep love of solitude, wide open spaces, and wildness, Teressa draws much of her current inspiration from the California coast. She works as a full-time artist and occasional marketing and fundraising consultant.
Her work has been featured on the cover of Tucson Weekly and in publications including Voyage LA, CanvasRebel, ShoutoutArizona, and Voyage Phoenix. It has been exhibited at venues such as the Phoenix Airport Museum at Sky Harbor International Airport, FOUND:RE Contemporary, Crystal Cove State Park, Laguna Art-A-Fair, the Cottage Gallery on Los Rios, and the Tubac Center of the Arts.
An award-winning miniature painter, Teressa has received honors including the City Hall Choice Award at Laguna Beach City Hall’s Art That’s Small at City Hall exhibition; Best of Show in It’s a Small World at the Tubac Center of the Arts; second place in the 15th Annual Art in Miniature Exhibition at The Village Theatre Art Gallery in Danville, California; and second place in the landscape category in the 92nd Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature sponsored by the Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. (MPSGS). In 2026, I accepted an invitation to become a member of MPSGS.
Artist's Statement
As a child, I was captivated by pointillism, gazing in awe at Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. As an adult, I became a collector of folk and outsider art, drawn to its authenticity, vivid color, and bold patterning. Studying the natural world has only deepened this fascination, revealing how repetition and pattern exist everywhere around us. Together, these influences shape my subjects, style, and use of color.
I work primarily in richly pigmented gouache on black watercolor paper, creating whimsical interpretations of the natural world. My paintings are rooted in my own photography, lived experience, and imagination. Many of my pieces are miniature in scale—often just 2 × 3 inches—where limitation becomes an invitation: to distill a scene to its essence while embracing tiny, magical details.
Working small encourages a slower way of seeing. Both artist and viewer are asked to pause—to breathe, to look closely, to wonder. In this way, the act of viewing mirrors the experience of the wild, beautiful places that inspire my work.
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts, Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY
Major in Studio Art (Painting Emphasis), G.P.A.: 3.54/4.0. Degree Granted: 1998
Graduate Level Study Abroad, State University of New York New Paltz, New Paltz, NY
Byzantine Mosaics and Frescoes of Rome, Ravenna, and Venice. Coursework: Summer 1998
Master of Public Administration, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
Public Policy & Administration Focus, Degree Granted: Dec. 2002
GALLERY REPRESENTATION
The Park Interpretive Store operated by Crystal Cove Conservancy in the historic district of Crystal Cove State Park, Newport Beach, CA
The Gift Shop at Cooper-Molera Adobe, 506 Munras Ave., Monterey, CA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020: Solo Exhibition, Industrious Scottsdale Fashion Square, Scottsdale, AZ
2019: Solo Exhibition, Industrious Tempe, Tempe, AZ
2000: Solo Exhibition, Crescent Hill Public Library, Louisville, KY
1998: Senior Solo Exhibition, McGrath Gallery, Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 [forthcoming]: The West End Celebration, Sand City, CA
2026: Art Market presented by West End at the Lido Stage, Sand City, CA
2026: “2026 Arizona Aqueous XL” (Juried), Tubac Center of the Arts, Tubac, AZ
2025: Holiday Market presented by West End at the Lido Stage, Sand City, CA
2025: Crystal Cove Holiday Art Bazaar, Crystal Cove State Park, Newport Beach, CA
2025: “92nd Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature” (Juried), The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. (MPSGS), The Mansion at Strathmore, North Bethesda, MD
2025: “Monterey Bohemian” (Invitational), Cooper Molera Adobe, Monterey, CA
2025: Juniper Market (Juried), Del Monte Shopping Center, Monterey, CA
2025: Monterey County Open Studios Art Tour, Folktale Winery, Carmel, CA
2025: Group Exhibition, Avery Gallery (City of Seaside City Hall), Seaside, CA
2025: “15th Annual Art in Miniature Exhibition” (Juried), The Village Theatre Art Gallery, Danville, CA
2025: “33rd Annual International Miniature Show” (Juried), Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2025: Spring Art Bazaar (Invitational), Crystal Cove State Park, Newport Beach, CA
2025: “It’s a Small World” (Juried), Tubac Center of the Arts, Tubac, AZ
2025: “The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniature Show,” sponsored by the Northern California Society of Arts in Miniatures & Sierra Artists Gallery, Mariposa, CA
2025: “2025 Arizona Aqueous XXXIX” (Juried), Tubac Center of the Arts, Tubac, AZ
2022-2024: Exhibiting Artist, Cottage Gallery, San Juan Capistrano, CA
2024: Crystal Cove Holiday Art Bazaar (Invitational), Crystal Cove State Park, Newport Beach, CA
2024: “91st Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature” (Juried), The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. (MPSGS), The Mansion at Strathmore, North Bethesda, MD
2024: Laguna Art-A-Fair (Juried), Laguna Beach, CA
2024: Spring Garden Art Faire (Invitational), Sherman Library & Gardens, Corona del Mar, CA
2024: Spring Art Bazaar (Invitational), Crystal Cove State Park, Newport Beach, CA
2024: “Art That’s Small at City Hall,” Laguna Beach City Hall, Laguna Beach, CA
2024: “2024 Arizona Aqueous XXXVIII” (Juried), Tubac Center of the Arts, Tubac, AZ
2023: Crystal Cove Holiday Art Bazaar (Invitational), Crystal Cove State Park, Newport Beach, CA
2023: “Inspired 2023,” Huntington Beach Art Center, Huntington Beach, CA
2023: Laguna Art-A-Fair (Juried), Laguna Beach, CA
2023: Spring Garden Art Faire (Invitational), Sherman Library & Gardens, Corona del Mar, CA
2023: “Nature” (Juried), Orange County Fine Arts Showcase Gallery, Santa Ana, CA
2023: “Art That’s Small at City Hall,” Laguna Beach City Hall, Laguna Beach, CA
2023: “Centered on the Center,” Huntington Beach Art Center, Huntington Beach, CA
2023: “2023 Arizona Aqueous XXXVII” (Juried), Tubac Center of the Arts, Tubac, AZ
2022: “Inspired 2022,” Huntington Beach Art Center, Huntington Beach, CA
2022: Laguna Art-A-Fair (Juried), Laguna Beach, CA
2022: Pop Up Shop, Huntington Beach Art Center, Huntington Beach, CA
2022: “Mujeres, Mujeres, Mujeres” (Juried), Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop, Tucson, AZ
2022: “Centered on the Center,” Huntington Beach Art Center, Huntington Beach, CA
2021: “Poco a Poco” (Juried), Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop, Tucson, AZ
2021: “All Things Paper” (Juried), Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop, Tucson, AZ
2021: “XSCAPE: Landscapes, Cityscapes and Mindscapes” (Juried), FOUND:RE Contemporary, Phoenix, AZ
2021: “Agua Sagrada” (Juried), Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop, Tucson, AZ
2021: “Mujeres, Mujeres, Mujeres” (Juried), Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop, Tucson, AZ
2021: “Portland on the Park Collection Exhibition” (Juried), Portland on the Park, Phoenix, AZ
2021: “Life on Paper: Arizona Watercolor Association Spring Exhibition” (Juried), Shemer Art Center, Phoenix, AZ
2021: “21st Annual Artlink Juried Exhibition,” FOUND:RE Contemporary, Phoenix, AZ
2021: “Just Add Water” (Juried), Phoenix Airport Museum, Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix, AZ
2021: “The [Indexhibit] Series 2,” The Mood Room, Phoenix, AZ
2020: “Regalitos” (Juried), Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop, Tucson, AZ
2020: “Arizona Watercolor Association COVID Virtual Show,” www.azwatercolor.com
2020: “Corazones Unidos” (Juried), Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop, Tucson, AZ
2020: “Salon Forty Eight,” The Mood Room, Phoenix, AZ
2019: “Tiny Works V” (Juried), {9} The Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
2019: “Regalitos” (Juried), Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop, Tucson, AZ
2019: “Colaboraciones” (Juried), Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop, Tucson, AZ
2019: “Share Our Walls” (Juried), Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild, Tucson, AZ
2019: “Historias e Identidades (Histories and Identities)” (Juried), Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop, Tucson, AZ
2019: “Common Ground” (Juried), Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop, Tucson, AZ
2019: “Año Nuevo, Obras Nuevas (New Year, New Works)” (Juried), Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop, Tucson, AZ
2018: “Tesoros Pequeños” (Juried), Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop, Tucson, AZ
2018: “Small Wonders,” The Drawing Studio, Tucson, AZ
2018: “Moments” (Duo Exhibition), Epic Cafe, Tucson, AZ
2009: “Alumni Art Show,” Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY
2007: “Alumni Art Show,” Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY
2006: Group Exhibition, Mellwood Art & Entertainment Center Gallery, Louisville, KY
2004: “Harvest Homecoming Juried Art Show,” Harvest Homecoming Festival, New Albany, IN
2003: “Harvest Homecoming Juried Art Show,” Harvest Homecoming Festival, New Albany, IN
2002: “Harvest Homecoming Juried Art Show,” Harvest Homecoming Festival, New Albany, IN
1998: “Jasper Community Arts Commission Juried Show,” Krempp Gallery, Jasper Civic Auditorium, Jasper, IN
1998: “The Central Kentucky National Fine Art Exhibition” (Juried), Elizabethtown Community College, Elizabethtown, KY
1997: “Cat's Pajamas” (Invitational), Brownsboro Gallery, Louisville, KY
1997: “Ohio Valley Annual” (Juried), Floyd County Museum, New Albany, IN
1997: “The All-Kentucky University Open” (Juried), Loudoun House Gallery, Lexington Art League, Lexington, KY
1996: “The All-Kentucky University Open” (Juried), Loudoun House Gallery, Lexington Art League, Lexington, KY
1996: “Fifty-Eighth Annual No-Jury Art Show,” The Woman's Club of Louisville, KY
1995: “Fifty-Seventh Annual No-Jury Art Show,” The Woman's Club of Louisville, KY
1994: “Artswatch Members Show,” Artswatch Gallery, Louisville, KY
PUBLICATIONS & REVIEWS
2024: “Life & Work with Teressa Jackson,” Voyage LA, June 24, 2024 (voyagela.com/interview/life-work-with-teressa-jackson)
2023: “Meet Teressa Jackson,” CanvasRebel, October 2, 2023 (canvasrebel.com/meet-teressa-jackson)
2020: “Meet Teressa Jackson: Professional Artist,” ShoutoutArizona, November 23, 2020 (shoutoutarizona.com/meet-teressa-jackson-professional-artist)
2020: Magazine cover feature and review in article by Regan, Margaret: “ARTS 2020: Galleries, museums emerging from pandemic hibernation,” Tucson Weekly, September 3-9, 2020, issue, Vol. 37, No. 30
2018: “Meet Teressa Jackson,” Voyage Phoenix, May 15, 2018 (voyagephoenix.com/interview/meet-teressa-jackson)
HONORS & AWARDS
2025: Second Place Award, Landscape Category, “92nd Exhibition of Fine Art in Miniature,” The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. (MPSGS), The Mansion at Strathmore, North Bethesda, MD
2025: Second Place Award, “15th Annual Art in Miniature Exhibition,” The Village Theatre Art Gallery, Danville, CA
2025: Best of Show Award, “It’s a Small World,” Tubac Center of the Arts, Tubac, AZ
2023: City Hall Choice Award, “Art That’s Small at City Hall,” Laguna Beach City Hall, Laguna Beach, CA
2002: Graduate Dean's Citation, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
1998: Honorable Mention, “Annual Student Art Exhibition,” McGrath Gallery, Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY
1998: Cum Laude Graduate, Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY
1997: Merit Award, “Fifty-Ninth Annual No-Jury Art Show,” The Woman's Club of Louisville, KY
1997: Merit Award, “Louisville Metroversity Art Competition” (Juried), Huff Gallery, Spalding University, Louisville, KY
1997: Best of Show, “Annual Student Art Exhibition,” McGrath Gallery, Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY
1996: Best Two-Dimensional Work, “Annual Student Art Exhibition,” McGrath Gallery, Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY
1996: Merit Award, “Louisville Metroversity Art Competition” (Juried), McGrath Gallery, Bellarmine Univ., Louisville, KY
1995: Honorable Mention, “Annual Student Art Exhibition,” McGrath Gallery, Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY
1994-1998: Recipient of academic and fine arts scholarships, Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY
MEMBERSHIP
2026 to present: Member of The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. (MPSGS)