Bunker Projects is a space for visual artists to develop their practice and create new works for exhibition.
about us
Mission
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.
By blending the production, exhibition and interpretation of art we center the work of local and visiting artists. Bunker provides a unique environment for artists to advance their careers and build community.
Equity and sustainability are core beliefs, as we work to uplift people from diverse backgrounds in the arts.
501C3 Non-profit status
2016
Established first
Board of Directors
2015
Completed renovation of gallery and residency spaces
2013
Discovered 5106 Penn Avenue as a fire-damaged apartment
2012
Bunker Projects was founded in 2013 by three early twenty-something artists: Jessie Rommelt, Abigail Beddall and Cecilia Ebitz, freshly graduated from Penn State University's Sculpture BFA program. Eager to continue their life as artists in a new city, outside of the university environment, they set out to cultivate an art space in their new neighborhood. The goal was to join neighbors in the tradition of First Friday Art Crawl on Penn Avenue. Attending BGC community meetings spontaneously lead the artists to a foreclosed apartment unit above Mr. Roboto, a newly relocated all-ages music venue.
History
What's next?!
2024
2023
Hired Creative Director & Operations Coordinator
2021
Started receiving capacity-building and operations grants
2020
Established first
Executive Committee
Where it Began
Bunker Projects was founded in 2013 by three early twenty-something artists: Jessie Rommelt, Abigail Beddall and Cecilia Ebitz, freshly graduated from Penn State University's Sculpture BFA program. Eager to continue their life as artists in a new city, outside of the university environment, they set out to cultivate an art space in their new neighborhood. The goal was to join neighbors in the tradition of First Friday Art Crawl on Penn Avenue. Attending BGC community meetings spontaneously lead the artists to a foreclosed apartment unit above Mr. Roboto, a newly relocated all-ages music venue.
Human connection
If its multi faceted, list bullet points:
- thing one
- thing two
- thing three
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Words with integrity
We believe you should never sound like a emotionless robot, our mission is rooted in finding your voice and translating that for you. Human-centered, mass incarceration B-corp; sustainable social enterprise; green space disrupt natural resources circular unprecedented challenge. Innovation grit a big data empower. Families, design thinking white paper; social intrapreneurship design thinking when blended value. Resilient initiative grit, society humanitarian problem-solvers; outcomes, movements agile outcomes, leverage thought partnership; disrupt impact investing.
Conversion copy, smooth like fine wine
We believe you should never sound like a emotionless robot, our mission is rooted in finding your voice and translating that for you. Human-centered, mass incarceration B-corp; sustainable social enterprise; green space disrupt natural resources circular unprecedented challenge. Innovation grit a big data empower. Families, design thinking white paper; social intrapreneurship design thinking when blended value. Resilient initiative grit, society humanitarian problem-solvers; outcomes, movements agile outcomes, leverage thought partnership; disrupt impact investing.
with adventure & style
02
My self-care day is coffee + construction junction run
I've done many jobs like framing and interior renovation
I grow cut flowers as jessieandtheblooms
I'm one of the original founders of Bunker Projects
Quick Facts About JEssie
Hey there, I’m Jessie, co-founder and Creative Director of Bunker Projects. I’ve been directing Bunker since my early twenties, more than a decade ago. Before the inception of Bunker, I went to undergrad at Penn State University for Sculpture and minored in Art History. While I was there, I got really interested in the dynamics of our community of students and how learning and making simultaneously deepened our connections with each other. I would say that I got interested in what others around me were making and followed my nose into curatorial projects.
I think the reason I love curating and creative directing is that it's really a web of many things. I love meeting new people and learning about their different approaches and I also am really inspired by long term evolving relationships both with people and places. Art seems to be one of the most interesting ways I have found to work with people and be in community. Through their work people can be free to be questioning, playful, healing, observant, destructive, intuitive and beyond.
Over the last decade I’ve also been able to explore other skills and ways of working. I’ve been an art framer, a personal assistant
Creative Director & Founder
Meet Jessie Rommelt
Hey there, I’m Jessie, co-founder and Creative Director of Bunker Projects. I’ve been directing Bunker since my early twenties, more than a decade ago. Before the inception of Bunker, I went to undergrad at Penn State University for Sculpture and minored in Art History. While I was there, I got really interested in the dynamics of our community of students and how learning and making simultaneously deepened our connections with each other. I would say that I got interested in what others around me were making and followed my nose into curatorial projects.
I think the reason I love curating and creative directing is that it's really a web of many things. I love meeting new people and learning about their different approaches and I also am really inspired by long term evolving relationships both with people and places. Art seems to be one of the most interesting ways I have found to work with people and be in community. Through their work people can be free to be questioning, playful, healing, observant, destructive, intuitive and beyond.
Over the last decade I’ve also been able to explore other skills and ways of working. I’ve been an art framer, a personal assistant
Creative Director & Founder
Meet Jessie Rommelt
operations COORDINATOR
Phyllis is a registered architect with a decade of architectural practice and a passion for community-engaged design and project management, which can be found in her work on the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's Library of Accessible Media. Having previously taught at Carnegie Mellon, she now continues to use her knowledge in developing projects at EwingCole. Phyllis also serves on the board of Assemble, a nonprofit organization and community space for STEM education located a few blocks down from Bunker Projects. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys throwing regular dinner parties centered on connecting new and old friends.
Phyllis Kim
artist COORDINATOR
Lucia is an artist and educator specializing in digital media and installation. They currently teach at Carlow University and maintain an independent art practice. Lucia actively exhibits work around the US and internationally, and was a 2022 National Endowment for the Arts grant recipient. With a deep understanding of installation, new media, and the logistics of exhibition-making, Lucia loves working with artists to solve both creative and technical challenges. As an artist, they understand the value of residencies and experimental art spaces that empower you to create and showcase the work that truly drives you. That work may not always fit in a neat box, frame, or category, and that is where things get exciting. Every idea deserves the right space to shine, and Lucia helps Bunker Projects residents and exhibiting artists get the most out of their experience through a supportive and hands on approach. Outside of their professional work, Lucia loves to read, garden, drive unbearably long distances in one go, and hang out with their cat Gummy Bear.
Lucia Riffel
Board of Directors
Conner joined the Bunker Projects Board in 2023. He has worked in various capacities in facilitating arts and cultural events in Pittsburgh over the past 8 years with a particular focus on experimental music and performance. Conner enjoys walking, reading, eating, and other things that people enjoy. He holds a Master of Arts in continental philosophy from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom.
Conner Plunkett
Emma joined the Bunker Projects board in 2023. She is moved by sharing space, time, stories and food in new ways that bring us together. She wears many metaphorical hats in media production and strategy, publishing, and writing. She lives in Wilkinsburg with her very loud, gorgeous cat.
Emma Honcharski
Ashley Ramos
Ashley is a Pittsburgh-based visual artist and poet whose self-portraits explore themes of body liberation, self-reflection, and shadow work. Working primarily in oils, her art challenges societal norms and invites deep introspection. Through both her creative practice and activism, Ashley is committed to amplifying underrepresented voices, encouraging cultural exchange, and fostering inclusive spaces. Serving on the board of Bunker Projects is important to Ashley as she seeks to help build the kind of artist support system every creative dreams of—one that leaves the starving artist trope behind, offering instead a space for growth, community, and those ‘aha!’ moments.
Ruby joined the Bunker Projects board in 2023. She 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.
Ruby Velasco
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.
Suz Kessler
Michaela joined the Bunker Board in 2024. She is the Wikimedian in Residence at the Pérez Art Museum Miami and a Leadership Adviser at Art+Feminism. Previously, she was a Curatorial Fellow at the MassArt Art Museum (MAAM), a guest curator for the Tomayko Foundation, Casey Droege Cultural Productions at Pennsylvania Western University in California, the SMFA at Tufts on view at Tufts University Art Galleries in Medford, and MassArt Low Residence MFA programs, a juror and Graduate Curatorial Fellow at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and a curatorial intern at the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston. She holds an MA in Museum Studies/Museum Education from Tufts University and a BA in Art History from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
Michaela Blank
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