Jen Conneely spent many years travelling, living and working in Japan, the U.K. and Ireland. She graduated with a BFA in Art and Design from the University of Alberta in 1993 but it took her several years before she found the inspiration for creating. Conneely returned to Canada to start a family and began working with seniors to provide computer skills training and visual art programming. While leading an art club at the senior’s centre, Conneely encouraged everyone to use their creativity without judgement, despite any cognitive, visual or mobility impairments. Enabling this joy of discovery and creativity in others pushed Conneely back towards her first love of painting. The Art Gallery of St. Albert is pleased to carry Conneely’s scenes from St. Albert and the surrounding areas. She comments that her “intention with this series was to capture and elevate the small, humble places throughout Alberta to allow the stories to remain relevant and alive”.
