
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, was published this year. 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. (I haven't sent anything out yet but I promise I will...)
upcoming book events for Saving Time
- April 12 @ 7pm PT
conversation with Chelsea Biondolillo / book signing
Powell's Books, Portland, OR - April 13 @ 7:30pm
Live Wire Radio with Laura Chinn, Heather Radke, and Reckless Son
Alberta Rose Theater, Portland, OR - April 15 @ 10:30 AM
Saving Time with Jenny Odell (in conversation with Molly Cox)
San Antonio Book Festival, San Antonio, TX - May 7 @ 11am
"Finding Nature, Saving Time," with Maddalena Bearzi, moderated by Alexis Madrigal
Bay Area Book Festival, Berkeley, CA - May 14 @ 1pm
Jenny Odell on Saving Time (in conversation with Christine Jackman)
Brisbane Writers Festival, Brisbane, Australia - May 16 @ 8:30pm
Life Beyond the Clock
Auckland Writers Festival, Auckland, New Zealand - May 22 @ 6pm
Saving Time with Jenny Odell
Wheeler Center, Melbourne, Australia - May 28 @ 11am
Doing Nothing and Saving Time (in conversation with Jess Scully)
Sydney Writers Festival, Sydney, Australia
selected conversations
- KQED Forum: "Jenny Odell Saves Time, and Herself, By Living Beyond the Clock" (2023, audio)
- Finding Our Way with Prentis Hemphill (2022, audio + transcript)
- The Creative Independent (2020, transcript)
- The Ezra Klein Show (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)