Founded in 2015, Jennifer Nelson Artists is an international art agency, providing high quality art and customer service to clients around the world.

Meet the JNA Team

headshot of Jennifer Nelson

Jennifer Nelson

OWNER & AGENT

Since I was 12 years old I've wanted to work in and around art. First as a graphic designer and now as an agent for the world’s bestest illustrators, I love what I do. What drives me is the creative energy of solving problems. The anticipation of upcoming projects keeps me charged.

I find pure joy in nurturing artists and find tremendous satisfaction in the knowledge that the work my artists do helps our clients’ businesses thrive.

After JNA, my biggest passion is hosting artists at my home in Vermont, The Smiley Manse. Each year we host multi-day retreats, workshops, and drawing events. If you are an artist seeking new opportunities, a creative recharge, and new friendships, come join us!

headshot of Maria Adams

Maria Adams

AGENT

Following formal studies in studio art and education, I fell in love with illustration. I compose brightly colored paintings and patterns inspired by nature, my kitchen, and the simple pleasures of domestic life from my cozy home studio in Minnesota.

I value thoughtful conversation and making meaningful connections with others. It brings me joy to support creative efforts of all kinds, which is why I’m grateful to do just that as part of the team here at JNA.

When I’m not painting, you’ll find me practicing yoga, buried in books at the library with my two kiddos, cooking up a feast in the kitchen, ice skating, or daydreaming about Lake Superior.

Rachel Place

AGENT

With a background in both corporate and creative, she knows what each side needs and how to find solutions that work for everyone. Years at Dell sharpened her instincts for strategy, analytics, and communication. Over a decade of freelance design work for brands like Robert Kaufman, Cricut, and TJX taught her what it actually takes to deliver. Put those together and you get someone who knows how to make a perfect match.

When she isn't playing matchmaker for artists and brands, you'll find her thrifting, creating, or adventuring with her husband in their Airstream. A true advocate for both sides of the art table, she believes there is no better feeling than helping bring beautiful things to life.

headshot of Tara Anderson

Tara Anderson

BOOKKEEPER

With over 20 years of experience in the field, I bring a personalized touch to my financial services business, Tara Anderson Bookkeeping. In 2021, I took the leap to establish my own bookkeeping business.

Beyond the spreadsheets and ledgers, I like to indulge my creative side, often pretending to be an artist in my own right. While my true passion lies in the meticulous world of numbers, I find joy in exploring the diverse and imaginative realm of art. I love seeing the work created by JNA’s amazing artists.

Rooted in New Hampshire, I share my life with my husband and two cats, Winter and Rosie. I love listening to music and spending time with my family.

  • "I've worked with Jennifer Nelson Artists, Inc., for many years. They represent fantastic children's book and surface design illustrators. I've worked with both Jennifer and other agents and they have all been easy to work with, and respond quickly to my queries. I highly recommend them."

    — Kerry Finnamore, art director at SourceBooks

  • "Working with Jennifer Nelson Artists has been a fantastic experience. Their artwork feels consistently fresh, relevant, and marketable, helping us create products that resonate with consumers. And their team is highly responsive, attentive, and always ready to meet our needs quickly and efficiently."

    — Wendy Martin, art director at Cra-Z-Art Puzzles

  • "We have worked with Jennifer and her team of talented artists for over 10 years, consistently offering us a variety of unique, hand-painted and digital designs. They’re always open to collaborating on ideas, presenting us strong design options for a wide range of retail products."

    — Ty Crauthers, art director at American Greetings

  • "I have worked with Jennifer Nelson Artists for years. They are an absolutely wonderful and highly professional agency to work with. Jill Howarth is one of my favorite artists and delivers delightful picture book art that goes above and beyond the brief. I can't recommend them enough!"

    — Lynn Portnoff, senior art director at Penguin Workshop

  • "Over many years of working together, Jennifer has shown a rare ability to listen, interpret our creative direction, and help guide artists toward work that feels cohesive, joyful, and well suited to our audience. She is perceptive, responsive, and deeply invested in the success of the work. We trust her eye, her instincts, and her process, and we value the partnership greatly."

    — the team at eeBoo

Our Values at JNA

When you bring a project to JNA, you're working with a team that takes your business problems seriously and brings real artistic talent to solving them.

Our mission is to move artists and their work further upstream in business – connecting you with talent that can do more than fill a brief. We hold ourselves to a high standard because your trust depends on it. Every artist we represent is someone whose work and professionalism we stand behind.

We push our artists to experiment, develop range, and bring their best thinking to every project. Honest communication is the backbone of our business.

We represent kind-hearted, collaborative, hardworking people paired with hardworking artists – because that's who produces work worth being proud of. And we show up to every project like our reputation depends on it, because it does.