Jennifer Janesko’s paintings hang in some of KC’s best restaurants, but her work reaches even further

Step inside some of Kansas City’s most stylish bars and restaurants—Bar Medici, Vita’s Place, Monarch Bar, Verdigris or Acre—and you’re likely to spot a large painting simply signed “Janesko.” The canvas might be a blur of sweeping blues, suggesting a seascape, or a burst of wispy bold colors reminiscent of a Rothko. Either way, these abstract works only offer a glimpse into the ever-expanding creative world of Jennifer Janesko.

In addition to painting, Janesko runs a successful jewelry line (janeskojewelry.com), regularly works on commercial collaborations and is currently preparing for an upcoming exhibition. The KCK native’s plate is full. 

At first, Janesko thought her creative path would lead her into the corporate world. “I earned degrees in fashion merchandising and fashion design at Stephens College while working as a freelance fashion illustrator to help pay for school,” Janesko says. “But the fashion industry was rapidly changing—and not in a way that felt right for me. I decided to stop interviewing for 9 to 5 fashion jobs and focus on fine art. Looking back, I’m grateful for those obstacles. They taught me to pivot.”

Along with painting, Janesko expresses herself in various ways, including designing jewelry, delicate silk scarves and home decor. “I live every day like a sponge, absorbing my surroundings,” she says. “Music, art, people, lighting, colors, energy—it all dances in my brain and somehow becomes organized chaos when I create.”

Organized chaos is her signature. Janesko’s paintings often have a sense of breathable simplicity. They’re never overworked but still carry drama and movement, as if the energy on the canvas is too expansive to be contained by the frame.

“There should be space to breathe, to think and to imagine,” she says. “I’ve always been drawn to minimalism, using fewer lines and shapes to convey a powerful message. An artist friend of mine likes to say, ‘Line stops, but thought continues.’ That resonates with me.”

These days, Janesko’s work explores the intersection of art and everyday life. She’s licensing wallpaper designs through Look Walls in Dallas and contributing to Geometry’s home collection in California. A few years ago, she translated her paintings onto silk and cashmere scarves, initially just to make one for herself. Now, they’re sold alongside her jewelry at the Kemper Museum.

Most days, Janesko is indulging in her calling card: large-scale commissions. She also dreams of a new studio with “huge windows and high ceilings,” is preparing for her next exhibition and is working on a hardcover book that catalogues her portfolio.

To follow her latest ventures, you can find her on Instagram at @janeskoart or explore her work at janesko.com. And if you’re looking to bring a piece of her world into yours, she welcomes commissions.

Jennifer Janesko’s Perfect Day in KC

Morning Musings

I’ll start the day with a pilates workout followed by lunch and a long conversation with my mom at Earl’s Premier, Caffetteria or Bacaro Primo. 

LiveActive

I’ll follow up lunch with a facial with Sara Knop at Live Active, then maybe an ice cream stop at French Custard. 

Drinks & Dinner

After tending to my garden and playing with my two obnoxiously cute but also obnoxiously adventurous Ragdoll cats, I’ll meet up with some friends for drinks at Vita’s Place or XO, then dinner at Antler Room or Farina. 

Nightcap

I’ll end the night with something unique to Kansas City, like Ekho Duo violin with Shane Borth, a local burlesque performance or music at Knuckleheads. Covid killed a lot of the late-night scene, but  Keyhole Tavern, The Ship and Nighthawk still burn the after-midnight oil and are ideal for a night owl like me.

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