Courtney Kenny

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Courtney Kenny

Born and raised in Omaha, NE, Courtney Kenny Porto, is known for her colorful acrylic
paintings, surrealist animals and yarn paintings. Porto’s work focuses largely on
modern still life, femininity and humor. Porto Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bethany College (Lindsborg, KS) with a BA in Studio Art. She has exhibited work in numerous juried and
solo exhibitions and public art projects throughout the United States and has work in several private and corporate collections. She is also the illustrator for Tender & True’s pet food packaging. Porto is actively involved in the Omaha art community and currently serves as Joslyn Art Museum’s Young Advocates Committee Vice Chair.

Artist Statement
I like painting feminine, shiny and edible things - nail polish, heels, candy, and colorful plastics- the stuff I loved as a kid that I secretly never outgrew. I love bright vibrant colors that pop, clean crisp edges and curved lines.

I have this need to do it all. I see something that inspires me and suddenly I have to try a new medium, new subject-matter, or new technique. Because of this, I often struggle to describe my work and put it all in a single category or style. My bodies of work are related and cohesive, but my work as a whole varies drastically. I am inspired by realism, pop art, surrealism, and the use of non-traditional materials.

I work in a variety of media. Each medium allows me something unique. Alternating between media keeps me engaged and motivated. Unlike many artists, most of my work is meticulously planned and I take great pleasure when the end result matches the vision in my head. Most often, my creativity lies in the planning and ideas behind a piece, not the execution. I have a minimalist esthetic. Most of my pieces center on a single focal point with simple or blank backgrounds.

Curriculum Vitae

View Curriculum Vitae

PUBLIC ART PROJECTS
- Public Electrical Box mural, LALA, Omaha, NE (2024)
- Mural Cube Public Art Project, Omaha Summer Arts Festival, Omaha, NE (2024)
- Mural Cube Public Art Project, Omaha Summer Arts Festival, Omaha, NE (2023)
- Mural Cube Public Art Project, Omaha Summer Arts Festival, Omaha, NE (2022)
- Sunny & Chair Public Art Project, Midtown Crossing, Omaha, NE (2021)
- Nebraska By Heart Public Art Project, Omaha, NE (2017)
RECENT JURIED/GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
- PACE New Masters 2026, Hoff Family Arts And Culture Center, Council Bluffs, IA (2026)
- Lux Art Auction, The Lux Center, Lincoln, NE (2026)
- Art & Soup, Omaha Design Center, Omaha, NE (2026)
- Queens of the Castle, Joslyn Castle, Omaha, NE (2026)
- 2025 Nebraska Biennial, Gallery 1516, Omaha, NE (2025)
- New Masters 2025, Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center, Council Bluffs, IA (2025)
- Bemis Art Auction Benefit, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE (2025)
- Art & Soup, Omaha Design Center, Omaha, NE (2025)
- Annual Art Expo & Benefit, Radial Arts Center, Omaha, NE (2025)
- Small Works 2024, Anderson O’Brien, Omaha, NE (2024)
- Small Works, Northville Art House, Northville, MI (2024)
- 8x8, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS (2024)
- FUN: Feminine Unleashed, Radial Arts Center, Omaha, NE (2024)
- Chronophilia: A Passion for Color. Anderson O’Brien Fine Art, Omaha, NE (2024)
- Bemis Art Auction Benefit, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE (2024)
- Brimming: Goblet Invitational, Belger Arts, Kansas City, MO (2024)
- We Regret to Inform You, Radial Arts Center, Omaha, NE (2024)
- Art Expo & Benefit, Radial Arts Center, Omaha, NE (2024)
- BOLD is Back, Bancroft Street Market, Omaha, NE (2024)
- LUX Celestial Bodies Art Auction & Party, The Lux Center, Lincoln, NE (2024)
- ARTcetera, Sioux City, IA (2024)
- Pop, Bluebarn Theatre, Omaha, NE (2023)
- 7Th Annual Under Two Hundred Exhibit, Wayne, NE (2023)
- Holiday Art Show, Split Gallery, Omaha, NE (2023)
- Bemis Art Auction Benefit, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE (2023)
- BOLD, Split Gallery, Omaha, NE (2023)
- Abyss, Split Gallery, Omaha, NE (2023)
- Contemporary Pierce Street Fine Art Popo Up, Omaha, NE (2023)
- Bemis Art Auction Benefit, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE (2022)
- Bemis Art Auction Benefit, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE (2021)
- Split Gallery Summer Salon, Split Gallery, Omaha, NE (2021)
- 1st Annual Art Exhibition & Benefit, City Light Arts Project, Omaha, NE (2021)
- Bemis Art Auction Benefit, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE (2020)
- PACE Interactive, Pottawattamie Arts & Culture Center, Council Bluffs, IA (2020)
- Art of Our Time, Yellow Door Gallery, Des Moines, IA (2020)

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
- Noticing, The Burkholder Project, Lincoln, NE (2026)
- The Bright Side, The Burkholder Project, Lincoln, NE (2025)
- Shiny & Bright, Ming Toy Gallery, Omaha, NE (2025)

COMMISSIONS/COLLECTIONS:
- VCU Richmond Children’s Hospital, Richmond, VA
- University of Nebraska Omaha Magazine Cover Design, Omaha, NE
- Think Whole Person Healthcare, Omaha, NE
- Tender & True Pet Food, Omaha, NE
- Pathfinder Wealth Advisors LLC, Papillion, NE
- RBC Wealth Management, Omaha Office
- Bethany College Office of Admissions, Lindsborg, KS
TEACHING/OTHER EXPERIENCE:
- Curator, VIVID, Clover 24, Omaha, NE (2025)
- Joslyn Art Museum Young Advocate Committee Vice Chair (2024)
- Young Art Patron’s Art Crawl Chair, Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, NE (2023)
- Curator, BOLD, Split Gallery, Omaha, NE (2023)
- Curator, Omaha Post-It Show, City Light Arts Center, Omaha, NE (2022)

AWARDS:
- 1st Place Artist Excellence Award, Art & Soup, Omaha, NE (2026)
- Nebraska Arts Council Micro Grant, Omaha, NE (2025)
- Honorable mention, Northville Art House Small Works Show, Northville, MI (2024)
- Best in Show, Douglas County Fair, Omaha, NE (2021)

EDUCATION:
- Artist Inc., Omaha, NE (2014)
- BA in Studio Art from Bethany College (Lindsborg, KS), Summa Cum Laude (2012)
- Harlaxton College Study Abroad Program, Grantham, England (2011)