Jean Bodies 2010 - present

Jean Bodies is a series of soft sculptures constructed from donated, used jeans collected from Prince’s community over many years. Each pair is fully cut into a single continuous strip, then hand-tied and worked using the artist’s signature daisy-chain technique, forming interconnected bodies that echo human scale and organic forms found in nature.

The choice of denim speaks to accessibility, inclusion, and environmental stewardship. Stains, rips, and wear remain visible, preserving the lived histories of previous owners and transforming each sculpture into a record of individuality within a collective whole.

Donation is central to the project. Through material contribution and public participation, Jean Bodies extends beyond the studio into shared authorship and dialogue. This framework expands through Jean Body Engagements, public activations where participants contribute denim and tie alongside the artist—creating communal sculptures while reflecting on sustainability, labor, and belonging.

Method Jean Body

Banding Together In Our Humanity

These Are My People, These Are My Friends

Every Day Look at the Person in Front of You With Dignity

Every Day Look at the Person in Front of You With Dignity (detail)

You've Been on My Mind

You've Been on My Mind (detail)

Because No One Listens to Them They Are Not Speaking the Truth

Children Live Up to What You Believe of Them

Children Live Up to What You Believe of Them (detail)

Jean Body Sample

Jean donors to date: Adrienne Domingus, Alex Kelly, Amy Pruitt, Annie Bruce, Anya Nabiev, Bill Janecke, Bouma Family, Buy Nothing Alki/Admiral (West Seattle), Cathy McClure, Chloe Chudina, Dana Rambo, Debra Broz, Deborah Chen Van Patten, Desiree Serr, Elizabeth Batchelder, Emily Wenner, Etta Will, Henry Baron, J. Gordon, Jakealyn Turner, James and Kay Janecke, JamesB Notkin, Jeana Frazier, Jite Agbro, Kathleen Capels, Kelly Crow, Kenski Okobayashi, Kevin McCullough, LeeAnne Beres, Lele Barnett, Lisa and Matt Jousma, Lisa and Micah Averiett, Loni Gieseking Slytebo, Lori MacDonald, Louise McDowell, Lydia Peterson, Lynda Lopez, Mark Lenssen, Matty Moore, Megan Prince, Nichelle Keatley, Nichole Halsey, Nyla Bitterman / Cherry Consignment, Olya Bolton, Pamela Rogers, Panida Vilaythong / FJ Consignment, Paul Evans, Peter Melvin, Prairie Underground, Rhea Herrell, Richard Janecke, Roxanne Heckman Meyer, Sergey Chudin, Sharon Mead, Sheri Ray, Sherrel Rhys, Sonia Jones, Susan Singleton, Terri Griffith, Theo Prince, TJ Janecke, Todd Bullock, William Leaman

*Anonymous donations were also made, while some jeans were found, and others were purchased from Donation Centers and Thrift Stores to keep this project moving along. This list is kept as current as possible.

Explore the life of Jean Bodies: View Jean Bodies Stop-Motion videos, discover Jean Body Engagements, or check Prince’s Instagram or FaceBook for photos and videos documenting development.