Jess Tolbert

SNAG Nominations & Elections Committee Candidate
Jess Tolbert is a craftsperson based in the El Paso, Texas borderlands of the United States. Jess received an MFA from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and a BFA from Texas State University, San Marcos, both with a focus in Jewelry and Metalsmithing and honors. They are currently an Assistant Professor of Art and Head of the Jewelry + Metals program at University of Texas, El Paso. Jess’ work is recognized nationally and internationally and has been invited/selected to exhibit at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, Brooklyn Metal Works, Beijing Design Week, Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts, and New York City Jewelry Week to name a few. Jess has participated in multiple artist residency programs and has been selected for numerous prestigious awards including the Preziosa Young 2020 award based in Florence, Italy, and as a Finalist for the Loewe Craft Prize 2020. They are a co-founder of the curatorial group Secret Identity Projects, and their work is represented by Gallery Loupe (Montclair, NJ, USA) and Gallery 2052 (Chicago, IL, USA).