River Hennick

As a Senior at the University of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, I am passionate about the intersection of art, science, and politics. Thoughtful and communicative, I enjoy the collaborative process and being a part of a team. Enthralled by the numerous opportunities to practice, and celebrate my craft, I find joy in learning and the creative process. My job experiences to date support my vision, which is to be a confident, working artist.

Projected Graduation: 2025, University of Pennsylvania

Work Experience

Streets of Jeremyville, Philadelphia, PA, November 2023 to Present

Artist Assistant

Dimentional Innovations, Kansas City, MO, May 2023 to August 2023

Illustrated, designed and fabricated a set of marathon award plaques.

Assisted the completion, hard-coating and faux painting of a 3/4th scale model of a seaplane.

Hard-coated a life-sized, ceiling mounted, sculpture of a F1 race car.

Fab Plus, Kansas City, MO, April 2020 to 2023

Traveled with the Fab Plus team, assisting in the installation of a five story light sculpture and art ceiling.

Learned welding basics, grinding, and prepping support beams for mezzanine structure.

Assisted Fab Plus with graphic design work, including block-print t-shirts and illustrations for website.

Contracted to fabricate golden eagle high school mascot. Implemented Fab Plus vision. Hand crafted fire retardant foam head adorned with plastic and faux fur. Constructed sustainable full body suit.

Etsy Design Shop

Design and sell mythological focused animal masks. https://www.etsy.com/WolfFinery

Exhibitions

Fellowship of PAFA,127th Annual Alumni Exhibition, January 8, 2025 – January 25, 2025

Opening Reception: January 10, 2025 4 – 7 pm in the Hamilton Building’s Anne Bryan Gallery

Heidmann Art Salon, December, 2024
123rd Annual Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Student Exhibition, May, 2024
122nd Annual Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Student Exhibition, May, 2023

Awards and Achievements

Lance Roy Lauffer Memorial Prize, 2024
The Raymond & Estelle Rubens Travel Scholarship, 2023
The Ward Prize for Sculpture, 2023
The John Bradley Sutton Annual Portrait Award, 2023
Venture Fund Recipient, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Participant/Actor in Isaac Julien: Once Again … (Statues Never Die)
The Jimmy C. Lueders Painting Prize, 2022
The Frederic Whitaker National Watercolor Fine Art Scholarship Spring, 2022
The Hal & Linda Robinson Award for Imaginative Use of Color in Representative Art, 2021
The Marchia Lampert Prize for Construction, 2021
The Samuel David Memorial Prize for Cast Drawing, 2021
The John Bradley Sutton Annual Cast Drawing Award, 2021
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, 2020, American Visions Finalist
National Student Press Association Contest, 2020, Editorial Cartoon, Fourth Place Award