Artist Statement:
I was born with a tremendous thirst for stories that widen our curiosity and capacity for empathy. I am passionate about creating work that queers the lens so that we may break down the boundaries within our imaginations and allow for an expanding of love in all its forms. My work is deeply personal and rooted in themes of queerness, relationship, addiction, shame, and the courage it takes to live an authentic life in the face of limiting societal belief systems. I believe in the power of story and it's ability to create change for our world, its people, our communities, and our planet.
Biography:
Jennifer Parkhill is a first generation Cuban-American artist, born in Southern California. They received their BFA in Drama with minors in Creative Writing and Film Production from the Tisch School of the Arts, NYU. They received their 3-year primary training from the Atlantic Acting School with additional training at The Experimental Theater Wing, Amsterdam, Stonestreet Film and Television Studios, and NYU Tisch, Berlin, where they studied with global conservatory students at the FIND Festival, led by German director and the Schaubühne artistic director, Thomas Ostermeier.
Jennifer is a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild, AEA, is a former ensemble member of the Bats!, resident acting company at the Flea Theater, is the writer/lead actor of the short films Honey & Milk, directed by Dash Donato (recipient of the 2022 Inside Out Re:Focus Fund & Winner of Best International Short Film: Female Eye Film Festival, Torronto) and Far Rock, directed by Peter Pascucci (recipient of the Russell Hexter Film Committee post production grant).
Additional acting credits include Listen (feature film), directed by Omri Bezalel, LOCKED UP BITCHES!, (The Flea Theater NYC), Women and Sometimes Men, (feature film), Chelsea International Film Festival; Bound, (episodic), Chain Film Festival NYC; Dance Nation, (Atlantic Theater Company) workshop performance directed by Lee Sunday Evans; The Seagull, (Atlantic Acting School), directed by Adrienne Campbell Holt; The House of Bernarda Alba, (Atlantic Acting School), directed by Lauren Keating; Bones by Dael Orlandersmith, (The Flea Theater), directed by Niegel Smith.
JP has worked extensively as a director of commercials, documentaries, music videos and short films and is a founding member of Here Artist Collective, a community of artists dedicated to championing queer stories in the arts.
Jen's recent directing credits include Very Well Mind's Winter Issue featuring Wayne Brady; Girl Next Door, Brunch Theater Co, Lady from the Sea (Atlantic Stage 2); a series of commercials for the innovative sofa company, Burrow; Dream Big, Princess for the Disney Channel; Medical Marijuana Miracles, (docu-series), 420 TV.
Jennifer’s writing has appeared in a variety of literary magazines, including BrUNch Mag, Eggy Pan, and Mercer St. for which her essay, “Repairer” was selected as Editor’s Choice. Her poems have appeared in the films Far Rock and 100 Years or Less, among others. Their poem, "Yellow" is the grand prize winner of True Colors Challenge sponsored by Moleskine + Vocal.
A global artist, Jennifer thrives on creating work that carries them between coasts and beyond fostering stories that possess the potential to create radical change in our world.