Jeannine Spooner Kitzhaber

Jeannine Spooner Kitzhaber is an artist based in the Twin Cities. She earned a BFA and an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of MN-Twin Cities. Over her extensive 25-year career as a college adjunct art instructor, Jeannine traveled for work throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area and River Falls, WI, developing a deep interest in maps and the evolving landscape, from woodlands and prairies to burgeoning housing developments. Her experiences viewing landscapes through her car window or via GPS maps sparked a sense of disconnect with the land, influencing her to document these observations through her artwork.

For over a decade, Jeannine has focused on exploring landforms depicted through tangible and technologically created map references, employing mixed media and assemblage techniques. This thematic exploration has earned her numerous accolades, exhibitions, and grants, including recognition from the MN State Arts Board. Her artwork is widely exhibited across the United States and is held in collections ranging from private homes to corporate settings and prominent Twin Cities design firms like Martha Dayton Design and Metropolis Design Group. She maintains a studio in the historic Northrup King Building in Minneapolis, where she displays her work.

Jeannine's work explores the disconnect between people and the land through the translation of landscapes via various systems. These representations reveal how we live, work, and what we value. She incorporates a mix of linear and geometric shapes, combined with divergent perspectives, suggesting the way landscapes are perceived from literal and metaphorical distances. Using GPS, paper, and aerial maps, Jeannine addresses contemporary landscapes, examining their organization, viewpoints, and navigation methods. Repurposing materials from home remodeling and construction projects such as house paint, wallpaper, and wood scraps, she adds dimension and texture to her art, creating a tactile connection to the built environment. Jeannine's ongoing series reflects the transformation of landscapes and the evolving relationship between people and the natural world amidst continuous expansion and construction.

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