Jess Dobkin facts for kids

Jess Dobkin (born 1970) is an artist from Toronto, Canada. She is known for her unique "performance art." This type of art often involves the artist using their own actions, body, or interactions with an audience to create a piece. One of her most famous works is called The Lactation Station, which she created in 2006.

Jess Dobkin studied at Oberlin College and Rutgers University. She also works as a Fellow at the Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies at the University of Toronto.

About Her Art Career

Dobkin started making performance art in 2002. Her art often explores her experiences as a mother. She also works to bring people together through her art projects.

In 2015, Jess Dobkin worked with many artists in Toronto to create a special newsstand. This newsstand was in an empty space at the Chester Subway Station. It was open for one year. The idea was to create a "creative exchange" for people using the subway. It was a place where artists could show their work and perform. It also still sold newspapers, magazines, and snacks.

Dobkin has also worked with other famous performance artists, like Martha Wilson.

Important Art Shows

The Lactation Station

In 2006, Dobkin showed her art piece The Lactation Station in Toronto. This project invited people watching the art to try human breast milk. The art show received a lot of attention. It also led to discussions about sharing human breast milk. The show was later presented again in 2012 in Montreal.

How Many Performance Artists Does it Take to Change a Lightbulb

In 2015, Dobkin created and performed How Many Performance Artists Does it Take to Change a Lightbulb (For Martha Wilson). She performed this at the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse in Toronto. This artwork was a tribute to Martha Wilson, another important performance artist. Dobkin's piece explored how we see things and shared funny thoughts about art. It was inspired by Martha Wilson's 2005 video, which looked at the history of performance art.

List of Artworks

About Her Life

Jess Dobkin is Jewish and a mother.