Meet Jeni
Ceramic artist Jenifer Oberle grew up in Franklin, Ohio. Her parents, both musicians, nurtured a deep appreciation for the arts and encouraged their children to explore their creative thinking and personal expression. From the beginning, she loved to draw, paint, and sculpt. She began her first children's oil painting classes at the age of 12, advancing into adult classes by the time she was age 15.
On her way to making her mark on the diverse world of artists, Jenifer enrolled at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she completed her Bachelor’s in Art Education. After graduation, she entered the teaching field as an art educator, and the better part of the next 30 years was a balancing act between “creative artist” and “creative teacher.”
Eventually, Jenifer and her husband moved to Arizona full-time to enjoy the gorgeous climate and pursue her art full time. She found her passion in hand-built clay forms; however, she soon graduated to perfect her talents using the potter's wheel under the direction of ceramic artist Peter Flynn.
Jenifer now rents studio space close to her home at Ground Floor Artists in Surprise, Arizona. She states, “I love the facilities, including studio space for artists, all working in a variety of media, a gallery for exhibitions, and classrooms where artists can share their talents with the community.” Jenifer also says, “I enjoy the communal aspect of sharing and collaborating with other artists that also work in the space.”
“I love to experiment with natural stains adding jewel tones for the unexpected Southwest desert ‘pop’ of color.”
Although Jenifer makes pottery for indoor spaces, she states, “I am more inspired by the brilliant desert florals in Arizona gardens and taking that inspiration into sculptural ceramics.” Recently Jenifer began adding metal accents to add a bit of glitz and creating large pieces to make bolder statements for her pieces.
Jenifer exhibits with The Ground Floor Artists in Surprise, The Sonoran Arts League, and the Arizona Clay Association. Between gallery shows and her creative production schedule, Jenifer enjoys working on commissions for people's gardens, homes, and offices. Her elegantly inspired wall and garden installations provide unique conversation pieces for any indoor or outdoor space.
Jenifer participates in the Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour in November and in exhibits throughout the year with the Ground Floor Artists.