Janet Jaffke

Janet has been an artist and “maker of things” all her life. Greatly influenced by her father, a master “old school” carpenter, they spent many hours together in his workshop as she watched him carefully perfect his craft. Sometimes he would give her little projects to work on, or they would make something together. He taught her about patience and process, trial and error, quality and craftsmanship. Very good lessons for a young artist in the making.

Originally from Chicago, Janet began formal training at the School of the Art Institute. Her concentrated studies were textile design and fiber art. After graduation, she started a small business producing hand-painted fabrics for clothing and home furnishings. Working out of a garage with a few employees and her work found its way across the country and into boutiques and department stores like Sax Fifth Avenue. Simultaneously she found herself creating theatrical costumes, art installations; and work on commercials and photography sets, even book illustration. Throughout all these wonderfully creative endeavours and interesting projects, she always identified herself as a fine artist.

Several years after starting her company she was approached to participate in a government grant that would bring artists and designers into the world of multimedia and the Internet. It was a fascinating opportunity in new technology she walked out of the studio and into the world of digital design and communication.

When she moved to a small farm town in Alsace France, she found herself in the perfect place to return to the life of full time artist. She has since completed the Nicholas Wilton Creative Visionary Program, held artist residencies in the US and Italy, exhibited in Chicago, Paris, Florence and Basel.

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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

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

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