Jennifer Kaczmarek (b. 1973, Pensacola, FL) was raised in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale area. She received her Bachelor’s in Arts from the College for Design and Social Inquiry with a focus on Criminology & Criminal Justice from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL. Jennifer later went on to study at the Southeast Center for Photographic Studies in Daytona Beach, FL.
In 2011, Jennifer founded Love for Alyssa, Inc. after the self-titled documentary work based on a little girl named Alyssa Hagstrom, who was born with arthrogryposis. Love for Alyssa was featured on CNN Photos, CNN Health, and CNN In America. In 2012, the project was a finalist for the Michael P. Smith Fund as well as selected as one of the Critical Mass 50. Inspired by Love for Alyssa, Jennifer founded Taking Focus, a 501c3 organization that supports photographers and filmmakers through fiscal sponsorships to pursue their documentary projects by using the art of photography, video, and online media to raise awareness and funds for those in need.
In 2015 Jennifer was invited by the Orlando Museum of Art to be one of 10 artists selected throughout the state of Florida to represent their 2nd annual Florida Art Prize for Contemporary Art exhibition.Jennifer is available for commission work worldwide and resides in Palm Coast, FL, with her husband, and three children.
EDUCATION
Associate of Applied Science, Southeast Center for Photographic Studies
Daytona State College
Specialization in Photographic Technology, May 2010
Bachelor of Science from the College for Design and Social Inquiry
Florida Atlantic University
With a focus on Criminology, May 2000
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Hollingsworth Gallery, "Love for Alyssa" (Palm Coast, FL), May 2012
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Southeast Museum of Photography, Dispatches From the Front, (Daytona Beach, FL), July 11, 2017Orlando Museum of Art, Permanent Collection, (Orlando, FL), January 2016
Orlando Museum of Art, Florida Art Prize for Contemporary Art (Orlando, FL), June 2015
Flagler County Art Exhibition, (Flagler Beach, FL), December 2014
Exposure, (DeLand, FL), May 2014
Southeast Museum of Photography, Critical Mass 50, (Daytona Beach, FL), August 2013Jennifer Schwartz Gallery, Critical Mass 50, (Atlanta, Georgia), 2013
Hollingsworth Gallery, (Palm Coast, FL), October 2011
SECCA Tree Studios, (Palm Coast, FL), May 2011
SECCA Tree Studios, (Palm Coast, FL), February 2011
Southeast Museum of Photography, Faces of Ability, (Daytona Beach, FL), January 2010
Southeast Museum of Photography, Departures '09, (Daytona Beach, FL), 2009
Southeast Museum of Photography, Faces of Ability,(Daytona Beach, FL), 2009
Gallery 202, Easter Seals, (Daytona Beach, FL), 2009
International Photography Hall of Fame, (Oklahoma City, Ok), 2009
Rochester Institute of Technology, (Rochester, NY), 2009
Focal Point Visual Arts Center, (Vancouver, BC Canada), 2009
Tongue and Groove Gallery, (DeLand, FL), October 2009
Calmate Cafe, (Port Orange, FL), 2009
Tongue and Groove Gallery, (DeLand, FL), March 2009
Brooks Institute of Photography, (Santa Barbara, CA), 2008
Tongue and Groove Gallery, Perspectives, (DeLand, FL), 2008
Tongue and Groove Gallery, Skin, (DeLand, FL), 2008
Tongue and Groove Gallery, The Mask, (DeLand, FL), 2007
Daytona State College, Gallery 202, (Daytona Beach, FL) 2007
Gallery 142, Mermaids, (DeLand, FL), 2007
Palm Beach Community College Art Exhibition, Juried Exhibition, (Palm Beach Gardens, FL), 2004
ACCOLADES
OMA, Florida Art Prize In Contemporary Art, One of 10 Artist Selected to Represent The State of Florida's Prestigious Exhibition, 2015Critical Mass 50, 2012
New Orleans Photo Alliance, The Michael P. Smith Fund, Finalist, 2012
American Photo's Images of the Year 2008, Honorable Mention, Single Image, 2008
International Photography Awards 2008, Honorable Mention, Single Image, 2008
Photo Imaging Education Association (PIEA), Third Prize, Single Image, 2008
Student of the Year, Southeast Center for Photographic Studies, 2007
Who's Who, Daytona State College, 2007
Creekside Festival, Grand Prize, Single Image Contest, 2007
Scholarship, Flagler County Chamber of Commerce, 2007
Photographer's Forum Magazine, Honorable Mention, Single Image, 2006
Creekside Festival, First Place, Single Image, 2006
Creekside Festival, Best In Show, First Place, Single Image, 2005
Photographer's Forum Magazine, Finalist, Single Image, 2004
Palm Beach Community College Art Exhibition, First Place, Single Image, 2004
COLLECTIONS
Orlando Museum of Art, Southeast Museum of Photography, Southeast Center for Photographic Studies,
and private collectors.
PUBLICATIONS
Jennifer Kaczmarek, "Amendment 2: Medical Marijuana Through the Eyes and Suffering of Those Who Need It Most", Flagler Live, November 4, 2016
https://flaglerlive.com/101608/weed-jennifer-kaczmarek/
Jim Abbott, "Photographer Captures Medical Marijuana Advocates", Daytona News Journal, November 3, 2016
http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20161102/photographer-captures-medical-marijuana-advocates
Jenn Allen, "Breaking the Law: Jennifer Kaczmarek’s Documentary Series On Medical Marijuana", Artborne Magazine, October 31, 2016
https://artbornemagazine.com/breaking-the-law-jennifer-kaczmareks-documentary-series-on-medical-marijuana/
Emelia Hitchner, "Second Time Around, Medical Marijuana Changes Lives", The Saint Augustine Record, October 24, 2016
http://staugustine.com/local-news-news/2016-10-24/second-time-around-medical-marijuana-changes-lives
Jessica Bryce Young and Richard Reep, "From Neon to Napalm, OMA's Florida Prize Exhibition Is Loud, Chaotic, and Totally Gorgeous", Orlando
Weekly, August 12, 2015
http://www.orlandoweekly.com/orlando/from-neon-to-napalm-omas-florida-prize-exhibition-is-loud-chaotic-and-totally-gorgeous/Content?oid=242305
Rick de Yampert, "Photogs Bring 'Stills' to Daytona's Bethune Gallery," Go386.com/News Journal Online, November 22, 2013
http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20131122/ent/131129879
Lacey McLaughlin, Photographer Uses Camera, Nonprofit to Help Others, May 25, 2013
http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20130525/photographer-uses-camera-nonprofit-to-help-others
Aline Smithson, “Jennifer Kaczmarek”, Lenscratch:Fine Art Photography Daily, March 14, 2013
http://lenscratch.com/2013/03/jennifer-kaczmarek/
Constantin Nimigean, publisher, “Jennifer Kaczmarek Les Enfants,” Oitzarisme: Romanian Online Magazine on Photography, February 22, 2013
http://www.oitzarisme.ro/2013/02/22/jennifer-kaczmarek-lesenfants
Brett Roegiers, “Love for Alyssa Still Grows,” CNN Photo Blogs, July 2, 2012
http://cnnphotos.blogs.cnn.com/category/jennifer-kaczmarek/
Maria La Magna, “Love for Alyssa: Examining Arthrogryposis,” CNN Photo Blogs/Children’s Health, July 2, 2012
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/02/love-for-alyssa-examining-arthrogryposis/
Lacey McLaughlin, “A Special ‘Spirit’- Photographer Captures Trials, Triumphs of Disabled Ormond Beach Girl,” Daytona News Journal, May 12 2012
http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20120512/articles/305129949?template=printpicart
Pierre Tristam, “In ‘Love for Alyssa,’ an 8-Year-Old Girl’s Heart for Life Is Unbridled in Kaczmarek’s Photos,” Flagler Live, May 10, 2012
http://flaglerlive.com/38001/love-for-alyssa/
Shanna Fortier, “Hollingsworth Features Art with A Cause,” Palm Coast Observer, May 9, 2012
Tom Burton, “Photography Helps Those in Need,” Orlando Sentinel, May 4, 2012
Shanna Fortier, “Love for Alyssa, in Photos,” Palm Coast Observer, April 7, 2011
http://www.palmcoastobservr.com/news/palm-coast/Neighborhood/04072011787/Love-for-Alyssa-in-photos
Mark Baratelli, Publisher, “Raffle for Love for Alyssa, Inc., Not-Profit Fundraiser,” The Daily City: Orlando Even Blog, March 27, 2012
http://www.thedailycity.com/2012/03/rffle-for-alyssa-inc-not.html
Pierre Tristam, “Dares from the Familiar from 7 Photographers at Hollingsworth Gallery’s Latest Show,” Flagler Live, October 8, 2011
http://flaglerlive.com/29250/seven-cameras-hollingsworth-gallery/