Collections
Judith Jaffe is inspired by her life of experiences. Her work investigates the human figure, personal relationships, motherhood, domestic scenes, nature, and the search for spiritual meaning in the material world. Her perspctive on life flows from her appreciation of humor, the absurd and the uniquely beautiful. She creates by working in multiple ongoing series, exploring a personal narrative of themes and ideas interweaving her inner vision, her drawing practice, and her bold use of a range of materials. Adept in painting, and printmaking, she has also experimented with monoprints, collage, cyanotype, gel plate printing, and mixed media pieces including installations. These Collections represent Judith's important bodies of work across her career.
Life As A Woman
“ Ever since I was younger, I have always imagined what it would be like to grow old. The life of a woman, containing many chapters, weaves itself into a continuous, unfolding tapestry that she alone fully experiences. Early on, figures of women and infants served as my important metaphors for existence. Womanhood brings a journey of creation, interconnectedness, vulnerability, and joy as well as sudden loss, deep solitude, found resilience, and quiet triumph. I love the vibrant energy and spirit of the female form to express the human condition. ”
Quest
“ My work in this series investigates the deep cycles of human experience. I have often contemplated the role that God plays in our world. As time progressed over the years, the stages of life moved to the very center of my mind and practice, leading me to reflect deeply on spirituality and purpose. This series, created following the death of my son, is an exploration of the fragility, resilience, and interconnectedness of life. "
Eve & Her Sisters
“ In childhood, I would spend hours cutting out paper dolls and accessories, making up stories around our shared lives. By fourteen, Saturday mornings were spent at the Art Students League drawing models like Rosie, who posed in nothing but heels, knee-high stockings, and a flower in her hair. As the 21st century arrived, after decades of model study and pastel work, I began to create image transfers and cut out female figures, placing them into organic, surreal landscapes. In this series, I explored the community of women through the female figure as I experimented with new materials and media, to illuminate the lives and narratives of women today. ”
Uncommon World
“ In life, there is much cruelty and terror, but also a wondrous and overpowering beauty. Both forces are necessary. Together, they create a mysterious and remarkable world, a world that dwells at the heart of all my work. My vivid landscapes explore this tension through a surreal lens. I lose myself in the small detail of pods, petals, and cellular forms, and explore expansive, dreamlike geometry in freeform landscapes and bold color. Without the human figure, these environments capture both the unsettling chaos and the sublime power of the natural world. ”
Meditations & Transformations
“ I love to draw. I love to draw from nature; not copy it, but interpret it. Meditating while drawing closes out the world and helps me find peace. The series began with the Meditations drawings in pencil and ink. Continuing to study the organic forms using transfers led to the Color Transformations mixed media pieces. It was enjoyable to introduce color and play with the feel of paint, further transforming the work. ”
Nature
" The beauty of the natural world is always inspiring to me. "
All That Jazz
“My husband, Lew, loved the Black Eagle Jazz Band and we would often go to the varioius clubs where they played. It was challenging to try to cature them but I tried! ”
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