Virginia Olenick

My sculpture work is rooted in the human condition - how deeply personal moments or experiences can also be universal. I’m drawn to the invisible ways we’re connected to one another, even in emotions or thoughts that seem entirely our own.

Faces have always been central to my work. They ground each piece in human connection and act as vessels for expression, anchoring the work in something familiar and relatable.

I work in mixed media, combining polymer clay, resin, wood, pigments, and ink. Each material brings its own texture and energy, allowing me to build layered surfaces that reflect the complexity of what’s happening beneath them.

I received my BFA from Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2001 and exhibit my work in galleries throughout Chicago, where I live and work.

Minneapolis College of Art and Design, BFA 2001

Ten by Ten: Jackson Junge Gallery, Chicago (2025)
Duality: Jackson Junge Gallery, Chicago (2026)
Figures: New Gallery, Chicago (2026)
All the Small Things: Art City, Chicago (2026)