JESSIE KENNEDY STEINBERG
The Grounded Dreamer
I am an Austin-based artist working in oil, charcoal, and soft pastel. My practice is rooted in poetic realism with narrative undertones, shaped by a lifelong fascination with the human condition that began with a BFA in Acting and years spent as a scenic painter, muralist, and award-winning sidewalk chalk artist.
As a breast cancer survivor, I create work as a meditative space, a way to find peace, resilience, and positive light amid life’s struggles. When I approach a subject, whether it is a quiet portrait, an antique puppet, or a delicate study of florals, I look past the surface to find its soulfulness, its story, and its quiet lesson.
Before dedicating myself fully to the canvas in Austin, I spent years passing on these foundations as a fine art instructor and program director in Los Angeles and Knoxville, teaching students how to see and translate the world onto paper and canvas. My work has been exhibited widely, from juried spaces across Texas to New York City—including showings at Dacia Gallery and recognition among the top 50 in New Texas Talent. I am a member of the Portrait Society of America and continue to create from my studio, crafting atmospheric scenes that invite the viewer to pause, reflect, and connect.
If you see art on my available page that you are interested in, please contact me. I can explain more about the piece, its inspiration and story, as well as payment and shipping options. (I can also deliver if you are in the Austin area.) To keep up with the latest updates on my work and life, you can follow me on Facebook and Instagram.