Jo Ophardt was born in Phoenix, Arizona but raised a Buffalo Bills fan by their family- all hailing from western New York. They moved to Portland to pursue painting at The Maine College of Art & Design and found the New England attitude to be quite agreeable. Their practice draws from pop culture iconography and uses swift marks to capture fleeting moments. They are constantly asking “why is this a painting?” and other potentially illuminating but ultimately discouraging questions.
RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
2022-present Stephen Benenson, Portland, ME
Studio Assistant
EXHIBITIONS
2025 WOLF Art Show!, group show, Walpole, ME
BFA Thesis Exhibition, Maine College of Art and Design, 522 Congress St., Portland, ME
2024 Familiar Faces, duo show with Wills Phillips, 49 Oak St., Portland, ME
Artistic Muscles, group show, 440 Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2023 Go Figure, group show, Maine College of Art & Design, Portland, ME
Curator: Philip Brou
Co-Lab, group show, 49 Oak St., Portland, ME
Curators: Patricia Brace and Kyle Patnaude
House Warming, group show, 82 Parris St, Portland, ME
ARTPM group show, Buoy Gallery, Kittery, ME
AWARDS & DISTINCTIONS
2024 Peaks to Portland Race 2.4 mile open water swim race participant, Portland, ME
2024 Nomination for Yale Norfolk Residency by Phillip Brou
2024 Above and Beyond Grant Recipient, Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
2024 Persis, Harold and Deborah Bates Arts Initiative Scholar, Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
2021 Dean’s Scholarship, Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
EDUCATION
2024 Maine College of Art & Design, Portland, ME
BFA, Painting, expected graduation date: 2025