Illustrating the elegance of the human body is the best way to describe the work of ASU Art Professor Jennifer Onofrio. Ms. Onofrio says her style of art is heavily influenced by her parents’ careers. Her mother, Judy Onofrio, is an internationally known sculptor, and later this month, the two will exhibit their work in their first joint exhibition titled Arabesque, which will be presented at St. Olaf College. Her father, Burton Onofrio, is a neurosurgeon, and from childhood, Ms. Onofrio has been intrigued with the human body. “I remember poring over medical books as a child, and I was always interested in physical maladies,” says Ms. Onofrio.
Ms. Onofrio has displayed her artwork in numerous galleries throughout the country including Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art in Kansas City and Syderman Works in Philadelphia. Her work is housed in numerous public and private collections including the Richard Belger Foundation in Kansas City, The North Dakota Museum of Art in Grand Forks, and The Morris Museum in Augusta. She is currently a member of the CAA: College Art Association and FATE: Foundations in Art: Theory and Education.
She joined the ASU faculty in 1995, and she teaches a variety of courses including world humanities, photography, and sculpture. Ms. Onofrio says what she enjoys most about working at ASU is seeing professors take the time to lead by example and being active in their fields of study. “I feel fortunate to work at a school where everyone in the department is an actively working artist,” says Ms. Onofrio.
In her free time, the Minnesota native enjoys camping, hiking, and traveling with her husband to view outsider art. She also enjoys spending time with her grey Weimaraner, Sirius.
Ms. Onofrio received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and sculpture from the University of Wisconsin. She obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture, drawing, and photography from the University of California, Davis.
Name: Jennifer Onofrio
Position: professor in ASU’s Department of Art
How long at ASU: 15 years
Jan 27, 2010
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