I am a writer and artist based in Oakland, California. My work generally involves acts of close observation, whether it's birdwatching, collecting screen shots, researching trash, or trying to parse bizarre forms of e-commerce. In general, I am compelled by new frameworks that allow us to perceive something new about everyday reality.
My first book, How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy, was published in 2019, and my second book, Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock, is now available for preorder. You can see my other writing here.
My visual work has been exhibited at The Contemporary Jewish Museum, the New York Public Library, the Marjorie Barrick Museum (Las Vegas), Les Rencontres D'Arles, Fotomuseum Antwerpen, Fotomuseum Winterthur, La Gaîté Lyrique (Paris), the Lishui Photography Festival (China), and apexart (NY). I have been an artist in residence at Recology SF (the dump), the San Francisco Planning Department, the Internet Archive, and the Montalvo Arts Center. From 2013 to 2021, I taught digital art at Stanford University.
For upcoming event details, news, and other missives, you can join my mailing list.
book tour for Saving Time
- March 7 @ 7PM PT
Launch event at SFJAZZ with the Long Now Foundation, in partnership with The Booksmith, San Francisco, CA - March 8 @ 7pm ET
in conversation with Ed Yong, with Literati Bookstore, Skylight Books, The Book Stall, and White Whale Bookstore (virtual event) - March 9 @ 7:30pm ET
in conversation with Jia Tolentino, co-presented by BAM and Greenlight Bookstore, BAM Fisher, Brooklyn, NY (sold out) - March 15 @ 7pm PT
in conversation with Angie Coiro at Kepler's Books, Menlo Park, CA - April 1 @ 3pm PT
Point Reyes Books, Point Reyes Station, CA - April 12 @ 7pm PT
Powell's Books, Portland, OR - April 13 @ 7:30pm
Live Wire Radio at the Alberta Rose Theater, Portland, OR - April 15
San Antonio Book Festival, San Antonio, TX - May 7 Bay Area Book Festival, Berkeley, CA
selected conversations
- Finding Our Way with Prentis Hemphill (2022, audio + transcript)
- NPR's LifeKit: "How paying attention can help you appreciate what's right in front of you" (2022, audio + transcript)
- The Believer: "Jenny Odell Considers New Temporal Realities" (2021, transcript)
- NPR: "Margaret Atwood And Jenny Odell On The Joys Of Birdwatching" (2021, audio)
- The Creative Independent (2020, transcript)
- The Ezra Klein Show (2019, audio)
- The Longform podcast (2019, audio)
contact
- Agent: Caroline Eisenmann (ce@goldinlit.com), Frances Goldin Literary Agency
- Publicity queries: Carrie Neill (cneill@penguinrandomhouse.com)
- Speaking queries: Stasia Whalen (swhalen@penguinrandomhouse.com)