Janet Jaffke

Janet Jaffke is an international fiber and mixed media artist. She was born and raised in Chicago, and now resides in a small farm town in Alsace, France. She graduated with a BFA from the Chicago School of the Art Institute where she focused on textile design and fiber art.

After moving to France in 2013, Janet worked primarily in acrylic mixed media, using collage as part of the process. While exploring various ways to create textured paintings, Janet collaged a piece of burlap from a salvaged produce bag onto her painting. This was the beginning of her fascination with the material. At first she buried the material under layers of paint, but eventually let go of the paint when she recognized the beauty of burlap in its natural state. Soon the burlap moved off the painting and became the primary focus and material in her work.

Janet has had artist residencies in Florence, Italy; St. Joe, Michigan; and Lewiston, New York. Her work has been featured in art and literary magazine,“WovenTale Press.” She has exhibited in Florence, Italy; Chicago, IL; Basel, Switzerland; and Paris, France.

She has worked in collaboration with writer LaurieShoulterKarall who after following her work on social media was inspired to write stories in response to her postings. Their book “Catch” will be published in September 2022.

GET IN TOUCH

CURRICULUM VITAE

Education

2020-Present Critical Discussion, Abstract Art with Cheryl Taves and Bill Porteus
2019 Color & Design Workshop with Mark Eanes, LaRomita School of Art, Umbria Italy
2019 Art2Life Creative Visionary Program
2015 Art2Life Creative Visionary Program
2000 Continuing Education – School of the Art Institute of Chicago
1999 Certificate, Accelerated Multimedia Training, Truman College, Chicago
1982 BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Exhibitions

2022 Fantastic Fibers, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY
2021 Women’s Woven Voices Project, Carlsbad, California
2021 Salon d’Automne, Paris, France
2021 Group show, Front of Bicycle, Basel, Switzerland
2021 Connections Art 55, International online exhibition
2020 Associazione Culturale Il Palmerino, Florence, Italy
2020 Advancing Women Artists, Florence Italy, Garzoni Challenge Online Exhibition
2019 Salon d’Automne, Paris, France
2019 Group show, Front of Bicycle, Basel, Switzerland
2018 Group show, Front of Bicycle, Basel, Switzerland
2018 Galerie 21, One person show, Altkirch, France
2018 Artbox Project, Virtual show, New York, New York, USA
2017 Group show, Front of Bicycle, Basel, Switzerland
2017 Salon des 40, Group show, St. Louis, France
2017 Tom Robinson Gallery, Two person show, Chicago, IL, USA
2008 Jackson Junge Gallery, Group show, Chicago, IL, USA
2007 Tom Robinson Gallery, Group show, Chicago, IL, USA
2006 Inside Art, Three women show, Chicago, IL
2004 Annual Celebrity Chair Auction, Chicago, IL, USA
1982 Traveling Fellowship Competition, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL, USA

Publications

2022 Woven Tale Press
2018 DNA, Journal D’Alsace
1972 Chicago Tribune Style Section
1989 Chicago Times Magazine
1990, 1991, 1992 Women’s Wear Daily
1989 Made in Illinois

Artist Residencies

2020 (February – June) Residenza d’Arte il Palmerino, Florence, Italy
2017 Blueberry View Artist Retreat, Benton Harbor, Michigan
1992 Lakeside Art Center, Lakeside Michigan
1990 Art Park, Lewiston NY
1987 Art Park, Lewiston NY