Jennifer Akkermans was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1983, and grew up in Hanna, Alberta, Canada. She spent her school years there, though soon after graduation she got the itch to travel. She participated in Katimavik, a national youth volunteering program, and through that she was able to see Canada and meet many interesting people. After Katimavik, Jennifer lived in Montréal for three years, being both stimulated and intimidated by the wealth of culture in that city. In 2006, she moved to Calgary, to attend art school.

Jennifer has been making art since she was a small child. What started as dollhouses, collage and making puppets has turn into mixed media, jewellery and fibre art. As a teenager, she sewed, made glass beads and strung necklaces. She did not take art in high school, in an attempt to keep her options open, only to realize later on that it was inevitable- there was no ignoring her need to make things. As a result, Jennifer enrolled at the Alberta College of Art + Design, and is currently in her third year. She is majoring in the fibre program, because she has fallen in love with weaving, dyeing fabrics, and “fibre collage.”

Jennifer’s current work is primarily exploration. She is experimenting and playing with many different techniques and concepts. Her work calls upon many ideas, but the underlying theme is her own sense of humour. Jennifer Akkermans is also interested in the therapeutic aspects of art and journaling, as well as business.