Jenna Caravello is a Los Angeles based artist working with animation, video game software, VR, and motion capture technology. Her short films, mixed-reality performances, and interactive installations explore virtual object-oriented hauntology, love, online relationships, and the role of memory in personal and collective narratives. Caravello uses the tools and conventions of animation and video game industries to critically engage with science-fantasy, world-building, and techno-mysticism. Her work seeks out humanity, absurdity, and vulnerability where computer culture and analog mundanity intersect. Caravello is an Assistant Professor at UCLA in the department of Design Media Arts and Associate Director of the UCLA Game Lab.
AWARDS + HONORS
Artist in Residence | Glasgow Sculpture Studios | 2022
2022–23 Society of Hellman Fellows Award | The Society of Hellman Fellows | 2022
Artist in Residence | DISI 2022 St. Andrews Residency | 2022
Faculty Development Award | University of California, Los Angeles | 2022
Outstanding Achievement in Motion Graphics or Animation, Feels Good Man | Cinema Eye Honors | 2021
Instructional Improvement Grant | University of California, Los Angeles 2020
Helen Hill Award | Chicago Underground Film Festival | 2019
Stephen Hillenburg Animation Award | Princess Grace Foundation USA | 2018
Jules Engel Award | CalArts | 2018
Best Departures Short | Indie Memphis Film Festival | 2018
SELECTED SHOWS + SCREENINGS
solo show Easy Ultra Fine / Killscreen Gallery, Los Angeles 2024
solo show lovelike / Occidental College, Los Angeles 2024
solo show lovelike / 2220 Arts + Archives, Los Angeles 2023
group show Salon de Physique / Larry Spring Museum of Common Sense Physics, Fort Bragg 2023
group screening Multiple Repeating Programs / Design in Motion Festival (DEMO), Netherlands 2022
group screening Mirror Image / Comfort Station, Chicago 2022
group screening Animated Shorts Block / Slamdance Film Festival 2019
solo show AMBER ROW: Demo / C113 Gallery, Valencia 2019
group screening Slamdance Cinema Club / ArcLight Cinema Hollywood 2019
group screening Shorts Programme: Animation / Raindance Film Festival 2019
group screening Animation / Buenos Aires Film Festival 2019
group screening Stockholm Independent Film Festival 2019
group screening Night Seven / Drunken Film Fest, Oakland 2019
group screening Mecal Pro Barcelona International Short and Animation Film Festival 2019
group screening Chicago Underground Film Festival / Logan Theater 2019
group screening Silk Road International Film Festival 2019
group screening Animation Block / PUFF, Hong Kong 2019
solo showcase Butter Elbow / The National Taiwan Arts Education Center, Taiwan 2018
group show Motion Capture Spotlight / CALARTS Digital Art Expo 2018
group screening CALARTS Film/Video Showcase / REDCAT 2018
group screening GIRAF International Festival of Independent Animation 2018
group screening Indie Memphis Film Festival 2018
group screening Square Lake Film & Music Festival 2018
group screening Queen Palm International Film Festival 2018
group screening International Shorts / Calcutta International Cult Film Festival 2018
group screening San Diego Underground Film Festival 2018
group show Current Underwater Weather / Roxaboxen Gallery, Chicago 2016
group screening BilBolBul International Comics Festival 2015
group screening Animation Screening & Panel / Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) 2015
group screening Chicago International Music and Movies Festival 2015
group screening Eyeworks Festival of Experimental Animation, Rijeka 2015
group screening Chicago Underground Film Festival / Gene Siskel Film Center 2012
group screening Melbourne International Animation Festival (MIAF) 2012
group screening International Program #3 / Australian International Animation Festival (AIAF) 2012
group show Body Places / BigFForever, Chicago 2012
group show PROXIMITY Is There Too Much / Nightingale Theater, Chicago 2011
group show On the Other Hand / The Southside Hub of Production, Chicago 2011
SELECTED WEB PREMIERS
12.05.19 Directors Notes
01.27.19 We Are Moving Stories
05.18.18 NPR
04.03.18 Gorilla vs Bear
05.25.16 Stereogum
11.25.15 Vice
05.06.15 AdHoc
12.01.14 Magnet Magazine
11.18.13 The Fader
08.21.13 Impose TV (Impose Magazine)
04.29.13 AdHoc
EDUCATION
CalArts | Experimental Animation MFA
School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Film Video New Media + Animation BFA