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Who We Are
Bunker Projects is a nonprofit artist residency and experimental gallery in Pittsburgh, PA that serves as a platform for emerging artists to develop their practice and create new works for exhibition. Bunker Projects was founded in 2013 by a group of fresh college graduates from Penn State who were eager to continue their art practice outside of the academic environment, but who didn’t see themselves fitting into Pittsburgh’s established, mainstream arts ecosystem. By blending the production, exhibition and interpretation of art we center the work of local and visiting artists. Bunker provides a unique and productive environment for artists to advance their careers and make new interpersonal connections. Equity and sustainability are core beliefs, as we work to uplift people from diverse backgrounds in the arts. Bunker Projects provides an immersive live-work-exhibition space alongside intimate cultural programming. We seek to foster a spirit of innovative support, connecting artists at all stages of their careers with Pittsburgh’s active and growing arts community.
Since 2013 We Have…
Bunker Projects is a nonprofit artist residency and experimental gallery in Pittsburgh, PA that serves as a platform for emerging artists to develop their practice and create new works for exhibition. Bunker Projects was founded in 2013 by a group of fresh college graduates from Penn State who were eager to continue their art practice outside of the academic environment, but who didn’t see themselves fitting into Pittsburgh’s established, mainstream arts ecosystem. By blending the production, exhibition and interpretation of art we center the work of local and visiting artists. Bunker provides a unique and productive environment for artists to advance their careers and make new interpersonal connections. Equity and sustainability are core beliefs, as we work to uplift people from diverse backgrounds in the arts. Bunker Projects provides an immersive live-work-exhibition space alongside intimate cultural programming. We seek to foster a spirit of innovative support, connecting artists at all stages of their careers with Pittsburgh’s active and growing arts community.
Since 2013 We Have…
- Hosted 60 emerging contemporary artists in our 4 month live/work/exhibition residency
- Presented 165 site-specific exhibitions in our gallery
- Collaborated with more than 155 individual artists
- Published dozens of pieces of writing & artistic discourse in our online publication, Bunker Projects Review of Contemporary Art
- Facilitated dozens of artist talks, workshops, and special events featuring experimental music and performance art
Our Space
- Second and third floors of 5106 Penn Ave in the heart of Penn Ave Arts Corridor
- Two resident apartments, two large studio spaces, kitchen, bathroom, lounge
- Flexible white wall gallery space
Our Audience
We welcome approximately 250 people into our First Friday openings each month. That’s upwards of 21,000 visitors since we opened our doors in 2013.
Staff
Jessie Rommelt, Founder, Creative Director
Jessie received her BFA in Sculpture from Penn State University in 2011 with a minor in Art History. She has curated various exhibitions and advised on numerous arts projects and programs in the Pittsburgh region. Her work at Bunker has been covered in national publications including Maake Magazine, Jenesis Magazine, and Vice's Creators Project.
Phyllis Kim, Operations Coordinator
Board of Directors
Nina Friedman, Nina joined the board in 2018 and is an arts administrator with a passion for contemporary art. Originally from Boston, she moved to Pittsburgh after completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Art History from the University of Vermont. Nina has worked at a wide array of institutions such as the Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Mattress Factory Museum of Contemporary Art. She is currently working on a Masters of Arts Administration at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Anna Mirzayan, Anna is an arts writer, poet, and fat curator. She holds a PhD in Theory and Criticism. She is currently based in Pittsburgh, PA, where she is the editor-in-chief of the Bunker Review and the exhibitions writer/content developer at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Her poetry chapbook, Donkey-girl and Other Hybrids, was published in 2021 by Really Serious Literature. You can find some of her writing at art-agenda, Square Cylinder, and Hyperallergic.
Liz Rudnick, Liz is an artist, curator, and creative strategist who was born in Herlev, Denmark in 1989. She holds a BFA in painting from Carnegie Mellon University (PGH) and completed her graduate studies in business at Columbia University (NYC). Liz is a member of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, where she serves on the Board, and Pro Arts Jersey City, where she served as Co-VP. Currently, Liz is Director of Development & Communications at Kelly Strayhorn Theater, a performing arts organization whose mission is to be a home for creative experimentation, community dialogue, and collective action rooted in the liberation of Black and queer people.
Mattie Cannon,
Ruby Velasco, Ruby is passionate about equity, inclusivity, and being an active member of her community. She is a project manager at a nonprofit organization that works to transform vacant and underutilized land into community assets. Ruby oversees the planning, implementation, and evaluation of various projects and initiatives that promote equitable development and land recycling in Pittsburgh. In her free time, she likes watching movies, reading, and exploring Pittsburgh. She lives in Bloomfield with her black cat Maximo.
Ashley A. Jones, Ashley is a visual artist based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She holds a BA in studio art from Central State University and an MFA in drawing from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Ashley is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education at Point Park University, where she aims to explore innovative approaches to art education. She is a faculty member at St. Edmund's Academy in Pittsburgh, and her art has been featured nationally and internationally in Canada and Indonesia. Ashley also serves on the Board of Women of Visions, Inc. and is an African American Visual Artists Guild member. Ashley's artwork, lectures, and research focus on identity, colorism, and discrimination within the African-American community. Her thought-provoking works compel viewers to reassess their preconceptions and biases, gaining prominent features in numerous publications and media.
Suz Kessler, Suz joined the Bunker Projects board in 2023. Suz is an attorney at the global law firm, Jones Day, where she practices financial markets litigation. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Missouri, and a JD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Suz is secretary of the board of the River City Brass Band, America’s only full time brass band.
Emma Honcharski, Emma is an artist, writer, and media strategist from Ossining, New York and has lived in Pittsburgh since 2014. She is a co-director for the Pittsburgh Art Book Fair, was a participating curator in Brew House Arts’ 2023 Prospectus residency program, and has collaboratively published a food writing and art publication (Dinner Bell Mag) since 2019. Currently, Emma is the Engagement Manager at NEXTpittsburgh and Executive Assistant at Benci Productions. She is also working towards an MBA and MA in Food Studies, with a thesis project focused on creating queer, sober, intergenerational spaces for food and togetherness.
Conner Plunkett,
If you have any questions or just want to get in touch, email us at bunkerprojectsinfo@gmail.com