In this insightful interview, we delve into the creative world of Jane Zweibel, exploring her journey as an artist marked by dedication, resilience, and profound artistic vision. Known for her captivating works that bridge personal experience with universal themes, Jane Zweibel shares her path from the early days of inspiration to establishing a professional practice. We discuss the challenges she has faced, the evolution of her artistic process, and the driving force behind her compelling body of work. Join us as we uncover the story behind the art and gain a deeper understanding of what it means to pursue a life devoted to creativity and expression. 1. Can you tell us about your early experiences with art? What initially drew you to painting and inspired you to pursue it professionally? My earliest memory of being profoundly impacted by art is the presence of a reproduction of a Henri Rousseau jungle landscape hanging on the wall of my childhood bedroom. I would gaze at it for hours, immersing myself in its mysterious painted world. It evoked both melancholy and joy simultaneously, marking my first experience of how art, particularly painting, can evoke and inspire such strong emotions and eloquently express meaning. I spent my childhood and adolescence painting and drawing my own worlds, and from the beginning, art was my primary mode of self-expression. In my senior year of high school, I had a solo show of my artwork at the school, giving me my first taste of what it could be like to be an exhibiting artist with an audience affected by my work. By the time I was in college, I knew I was an artist and wanted to pursue painting professionally. For me, it was never a career choice but rather a calling.
PsychotropicDreaming, Oil on canvas,
2. What were some of the first steps you took to establish yourself as a painter? Did you face any particular challenges in the early stages of your career?
After receiving my MFA in painting, the first step I took to transition to a professional painter was to rent a studio space in New York City and establish my studio practice. The key was to maintain my practice through steadfast dedication. I accomplished this by establishing a consistent studio routine with the goal of developing and creating strong bodies of work. At that time, I also vigorously pursued exhibition opportunities as well as other professional avenues, such as grants and artist residencies. I faced two main challenges in the early stages of my painting career. First, I learned to go to my studio even when I was fatigued and uninspired, which helped me build a strong work ethic over time. Second, I learned the art of dealing with rejection and developed the ability to persevere through both successes and failures that characterize an artist's professional life.
Everything Under the Sun, 2021, Oil on canvas,
3. Your work seems to reflect a deep connection to nature. How do you translate the complexities of natural environments into visual art, and what message are you hoping to convey?
Throughout my work, I have explored my subject matter in a range of painted environments, including the natural world. The landscapes depicted in my paintings are conjured through observation, memory, and imagination. I have been particularly interested in the ways in which the female body relates to nature and the stories the body in the natural world tells. For example, in my "Misfits" paintings, I created monumental self-portraits against backdrops of observed and remembered landscapes. These landscapes are specific and hold personal meaning for me, while also serving as universal settings where viewers can place themselves. The figures are intimately connected to the natural worlds depicted, creating an inherently narrative interrelationship. We all carry inner terrains, and my paintings strive to convey this and investigate the various layers of reality—psychological, physical, emotional—that characterize human experience. In more recent work, I have been creating "dreamscapes," which explore the territory of the subconscious.
4. You mention in your artist statement the importance of 'creating dialogue' through your art. Can you elaborate on how you aim to foster this dialogue between your work and the viewer? It is very important to me that my paintings create a vital dialogue with the viewer. My paintings depict non-linear narratives that, like a puzzle, invite the viewer to complete them. They are composed of layers of meaning meant to be open to interpretation, like dreams and life, suggesting multiple readings. Through my paintings, I am creating universes that are both known and unknown. It is into the territory of the unknown that I wish to bring the viewer. 5. The archived collection titled “Misfits” on your site, appears to focus on the theme of forgotten or overlooked subjects. What inspired you to explore this concept, and how did you choose the specific elements featured in this series? In my series of paintings, "Misfits," I created images of female figures that are both self-portraits and representations of the "everywoman." These larger-than-life women are depicted in various states of undress, adorned in pantyhose. The pantyhose adorn the figures in unconventional, surreal ways, twisting and distorting their bodies. Opposing states are expressed, such as hiding and revealing, struggle and resilience. These women do not conform to traditional notions of feminine beauty but instead create their own sense of agency and self. We all wrestle with both inner, psychic self-concepts and outer, physical self-images. In my "Misfits" paintings, I sought to explore these inner and outer states of female and overall human experience.
Misfit 5, 1997, Oil on canvas, 82 x 46”
6. Can you share the significance of the title “Misfits” in relation to the themes explored in this series? How does it reflect your artistic intentions?
The title “Misfits” suggests a state of otherness, where the women portrayed struggle against conventional concepts of feminine beauty and being. The symbolism and metaphor of the pantyhose that each figure writhes in and pushes against, suggest a kind of second skin. These female figures strive to define themselves, to discover and fit into psychological, emotional, and physical self-concepts, and to give form to their sense of identity. The term “Misfit” connotes someone who is an outsider, but also someone who is in some essential way unique and special, a challenge to the status quo. But the title also can be read as “Miss-fit”, suggesting that these women fit into their own created worlds.
Misfit 4, 1997, Oil on canvas, 102 x 60”
7. What were some of the most memorable milestones or achievements in your career so far? What makes these moments stand out for you?
My work and career gained significant momentum in the 1990s, when I was able to develop my strongest work at that time. I created a series of mixed media paintings, surreal subway train scenes, titled "From the Habitat." This body of work was presented in a solo exhibition at the Transit Museum in Brooklyn, marking the first solo exhibition of a painter at that venue. At the same time, a large poster of my work was installed throughout the NYC subway system. I remember the thrill of exiting the train and seeing my work displayed there! Other professional accomplishments include two solo exhibitions at 55 Mercer Gallery in SoHo, NYC, which were favorably reviewed by The New York Times and Art in America magazine. A recent milestone was my artist residency at the School of Visual Arts in NYC, culminating in an Open Studio event where my latest body of work was presented and well-received. Additionally, I have been awarded a fellowship at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and am about to embark on this fully funded residency to create new work.
Misfit 3, 1997, Oil on canvas, 108 x 55”
8. What advice would you give to emerging artists who are just starting their careers? What are some key steps they should take to establish themselves in the art world?
My advice to emerging artists beginning their careers and striving to succeed in the art world is as follows: First, establish a studio practice and create a dedicated, consistent routine for making art. Make it a primary goal to develop a strong body of work. Second, form a solid, supportive community of artists. Once you have a strong, consistent body of work, ensure you get excellent documentation of it. Apply for grants, artist residencies, and selective opportunities. Attend gallery shows and openings, conduct research, and find galleries you admire and feel an affinity with, working to develop relationships with these galleries. Be prepared for the long haul—plant seeds, take time to develop, and evolve. Being a serious, dedicated professional artist requires tremendous commitment. And finally, always stay true to yourself and authentic in your art and vision.
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