March Ignite Passion Winner, Jessica Guinn

Jessica Guinn is the Visual Arts Director at the Oldham County Schools Arts Center, where she oversees arts programming both on-site and through satellite classes offered across the county in our schools. In addition, she teaches ceramics courses for children and adults, leads the Side-by-Side art program for students with disabilities, and facilitates summer visual arts camps. As a professional artist, Jessica specializes in wheel throwing and hand-building, creating both sculptural and functional stoneware pottery. Her work is known for its distinctive glaze techniques and designs and has been featured in numerous regional art festivals and exhibits. 

As an educator Jessica founded the Visual Art Focus Area for the Arts Center’s CAPAA program where students experience rigorous instruction, professional exhibition opportunities, mentorship, and leadership roles–preparing students to succeed in higher education and contribute meaningfully to the creative industries and cultural life of their communities. Beyond studio time, her CAPAA students are gaining valuable leadership experience in our community. CAPAA students have been placed in teaching roles at the Arts Center, helping to guide and mentor younger artists in youth classes, all while building their own confidence, leadership skills, and a deeper understanding of the creative process. 

Jessica’s students have gone on to pursue degrees in studio art at UofL, animation at East Tennessee State, interior design at the University of Cincinnati, production design at UK, and art education at BYU, to name a few. Many of her students have also participated in the Governor’s School for the Arts and the Governor’s Scholars Program. Jessica Guinn is a visionary educator who inspires her students to reach their full artistic potential. She truly ignites passion for the arts in all of her students, her colleagues, and in our Oldham community.