Jefferson Ridenour is a scenic designer and artist based in New York City. Primarily designing for opera and theatre throughout the U.S., he thoroughly enjoys collaboration with other artists to create evocative and bold narrative designs. His diverse background in liberal arts, specifically music and theatre training, has enhanced his designs through reflecting the tone of a work's music and text through visual design combined with energy, boldness and range of style.

 Jefferson received his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he studied under the esteemed scenic designer John Ezell and scenic artist Alice Bracken-Carroll. Most recently, Jefferson designed the Off-Broadway U.S. premiere of Party Face by Isobel Mahon, starring Hayley Mills and directed by Amanda Bearse at City Center. Since graduating UMKC, Jefferson has formed a strong creative partnership with director Fenlon Lamb designing and collaborating on several productions in opera including: Cendrillon, Little Women, Die Zauberflöte, Suor Angelica/ Gianni Schicchi, Hansel und Gretel, La voix humaine (UMKC Opera), Hansel and Gretel (Nightingale Opera Theatre), La boheme and La Cenerentola (Bar Harbor Music Festival), La Traviata and Tosca (Finger Lakes Opera) & Elvis Costello’s The Juliet Letters (Lyric Opera of Kansas City). In addition, he has also designed The Elixir of Love and The Consul (Nightingale Opera Theatre), Afflicted: Daughters of Salem (Coterie Theatre), Seminar (Unicorn Theatre), Auntie Mame’d (KC Artists Against AIDS), Cabaret (Austin College), A Murder is Announced (Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre), and was the Asst. Scenic Designer/ Props Designer for A Christmas Carol (Arrow Rock Lyceum 2014-16 seasons).

 Since moving to NYC, Jefferson has been the Charge Scenic Artist for Encompass New Opera Theatre’s A Wake or A Wedding and has studio assisted George Tsypin on Manon Lescaut (St. Petersburg & Berlin) and the Sochi Olympics Exhibition (Moscow), Derek McLane on Gigi (Kennedy Center/Broadway) and was the Asst. Set Designer in 2015 to Alain Vaes for the current stunning production of The Nutcracker (Kansas City Ballet). Enhancing his portfolio, he has also been the Lead Exhibit Designer for the Children's Museum of the Treasure Coast Educational Tour through AST Exhibits. He received the 2010 Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Emerson Young Artist Award & was a semi-finalist with Lamb for the OPERA America 2014 Robert L.B. Tobin Director/ Designer Showcase.