Jen Duran’s exhibit in Poway explores self-discovery and authenticity

Jen Duran says her artwork on display in the “Fragments of Becoming” exhibit in Poway speaks to personal growth and transformation.

“It reflects the idea that we are always navigating pieces of who we are — glimpses of our evolving identity and the moments that shape us along the way,” said Duran, 39.

“Fragments of Becoming” continues through Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road.

The exhibit features 35 works of Duran’s art — some originals and others hand-embellished giclée reproductions which are high-quality pigment prints on fine paper.

Each piece is created to evoke emotion and invite reflection, she said.

“My goal is for viewers to see themselves reflected in the work — not in a literal sense, but emotionally,” said the Rancho Penasquitos resident of her solo show. “The layered textures and fragmented imagery leave space for personal interpretation, inviting each person to bring their own experiences and emotions into the piece.”

Collectors have told Duran that her work “speaks to something they couldn’t put into words.”

“That’s the connection I hope for — art that creates a quiet moment of recognition and reminds us we are not alone in our feelings or our becoming,” she said.

Duran attended Otis College of Art & Design in Los Angeles in 2004. She said she left school early to pursue other interests and start a family with her husband of 20 years, Karl, but her artistic journey continued and has evolved ever since.

The artist said she has spent much of her adult life raising her family, which includes four children. Two of the Duran children live with her at home, one is serving in the military, and one is married and recently welcomed a new baby into the family, she said.

While finding family connections deeply rewarding, Duran said she began showcasing her art in local shows and venues about a decade into her marriage. From there, she said her art career really began to flourish.

“I truly believe I was born an artist,” said Duran, who also enjoys sports, playing board games and watching cooking competition shows. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve been creating — whether through coloring, painting or crafting. Making art has always been a natural extension of who I am.”

Duran works primarily with watercolor, acrylic and ink, but she also dabbles in colored pencils, graphite and charcoal. She said she loves the fluidity and spontaneity of watercolor and ink, and the grounding structure of drawing mediums.

They allow her to move between freedom and precision, which deeply influences her style, she said.

“I’m a visionary abstract-realist painter whose work bridges the emotional depth of surrealism with the structure of realism,” the artist said. “Over the past decade, I’ve developed a signature voice by layering watercolor, acrylic, inks and sometimes charcoal or spray paint to explore themes of self-discovery, freedom and authentic expression.”

Duran describes the Poway Center for the Performing Arts as a “beautiful space.” She said she is honored to share her work in a venue so close to her own community.

Over the past decade, she has also participated in a number of art festivals and exhibitions, including ArtWalk San Diego’s Mission Federal and Liberty Station shows, the La Jolla Art & Wine Festival, and the Coronado Art & Wine Festival. In 2024, her work was also exhibited at Adelman Fine Art Gallery in downtown San Diego for several months.

She says her art is rooted in personal exploration. Each piece begins as an emotional response — an unfiltered expression of what she’s processing or reflecting on at that time, she said.

“Through fluid layers of watercolor and ink, I allow spontaneity and vulnerability to surface, while acrylics and drawing mediums bring balance and grounding,” she said. “This tension between control and release mirrors the journey of self-discovery. Freedom shows up in my willingness to let the medium guide me, and authenticity is found in the honesty of the marks, the colors and the stories they carry.”

Duran has received several awards in the category of watercolor over the years, but she says she prefers to let the art itself be the focus rather than the accolades.

Her work is available through her website, artbyjenduran.com, and at the art festivals and shows she participates in throughout the year. Prices vary widely depending on whether it’s an original or a print, making her work accessible to a range of collectors.

Viewing hours for “Fragments of Becoming” at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, and 1 to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Performances at the arts center may affect gallery hours.

Parking is free, but parking passes are required on weekdays and can be picked up in the main office within the arts center lobby. For more information, call 858-748-0505.