Hannah Theiss Artist Talk & Collage Event @ J. Pepin Art Gallery

Join artist Hannah Theiss as she shares her process and story behind Aphelion. Hannah will share about the meaning of her work and guide attendees in the creation of collages that capture a variety of abstract feelings with materials from her Aphelion exhibition. Supplies will be provided.

In partnership with Blackfish Gallery, guest artist Hannah Theiss presents Aphelion at J. Pepin Gallery. Aphelion marks the genesis of Theiss’s artistic exploration of mental health–navigating darkness and the reassembly of self. Aphelion serves as the foundation for her subsequent body of work, Qualia, which is on exhibit in tandem with this show at Blackfish Gallery. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience Aphelion, the foundation of Qualia, and to follow the evolution of Theiss’s artistic journey.

About J. Pepin Art Gallery

Founded by Jennifer Pepin in 2013, J. Pepin Art Gallery is a contemporary art gallery reframing the perception of mental illness to be one of mental health. Along with their work, the artists share their own journeys with mental health and art, creating a much needed dialog. We all have a mental health to take care of and Jennifer wants to set an example that it is safe to talk about it. People need to have tools to support their mental health and for many that is creativity. Jennifer hopes her gallery will inspire people to find their own ways to maintain good mental health whether that be through art or something else.

About Blackfish Gallery

Blackfish Gallery has been fully owned and operated by working artists since its founding in 1978. It is the oldest cooperative gallery in Portland, Oregon, and one of the most enduring and successful cooperative galleries in the United States. Blackfish is one of the pioneering galleries in what is now the Pearl District and remains committed to this special neighborhood, which has always been home. The work of Blackfish artists is held in the permanent collections of many prestigious institutions, as well as in countless corporate and private collections throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, Australia and Great Britain. Our artist roster includes emerging, mid- and late-career artists, and four of Blackfish’s founding artist-members. In 2024, its 45th year of operation, Blackfish was honored with a proclamation from the City of Portland, which noted its vital contributions to Portland’s arts ecosystem, and its role in nurturing many of the Northwest’s most celebrated artists. More than 200 prominent Oregon and Washington artists have been represented by Blackfish over the years. Blackfish Gallery is a founding member of PADA, the Portland Art Dealers Association.