Jane Maxwell
Jane Maxwell was born in 1964 in Boston. Maxwell currently lives in Boston with her family. She creates mixed media collage that is built from many layers of found paper; most recently aging billboard posters from Paris and elewhere in Europe. "I have come to terms with the fact that I am deeply and unapologetically moved by fashion." Maxwell’s artistic voice grew out of a passion for vintage materials, modern fashion and design -– mingled with a deep fascination for pop culture and female empowerment. Maxwell’s work has been collected around the globe.
EDUCATION
BA 1986 Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT
ART EDUCATION
Selection of mixed media classes and workshops
1996-1998 School of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
1995-1997 DeCordova Museum School, Lincoln, MA
1994 New Art Center, Newton, MA
ARTIST STATEMENT 2020
I have loved fashion since I was a little girl. Some of my earliest memories are of visiting my grandfather’s garment factory in South Boston. He manufactured women’s clothing and I marveled at the huge bolts of fabric, the meticulous pattern makers and industrial stitching machines. His designer was a woman in her 20’s whom I simply worshipped. My grandfather would have his team create miniature versions of their designs for my sister and me, until we were old enough to go ‘shopping’ right off the revolving racks in his factory.
Into my adulthood, my love for fashion grew, but I went through a period of deeply resenting the fashion industry for teasing me with clothes that I could neither fit into nor afford. In fact, much of my art over the past 20 years has commented on my complicated relationship with fashion, the media and its direct influence on the cultural epidemic of negative body image. As I’ve aged, I still can’t fit into most of the fashion I revere and I am still overwhelmed by the price tags, but something has shifted in me.
While I still struggle with ambivalent feelings, I have come to terms with the fact that I am deeply and unapologetically moved by fashion. I find it to be creative and innovative. I love the power, confidence and individuality it offers women. I am enamored with fashion’s color, shape, texture, fluidity and form. And, I am happy that the fashion world has begun to embrace women of different shapes, sizes and color. (There is still a very long way to go, but this fashion season, I have seen more curvy women and racial diversity than ever).
This series celebrates fashion and power. The women on my canvas’ stride with confidence, style and strength. They are inspired by the fashion seen on the pages of magazines, on the red carpet and fashion runway. I am asserting authority, individuality and fearlessness. On these canvas’ I am putting into play my own fantasy of becoming a fashion designer by dressing these women in found papers with distinct pattern, texture and print.
Dresses and backgrounds are built from aged, layered billboard papers that have been torn down from walls throughout Europe – mostly Paris – the world’s fashion capital.I’ve repurposed into fashion these billboards, which were once fashion advertisements! Full circle! I love to use these rich, textured papers that speak volumes about culture, history, fashion and art.
RECENT SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020 Lanoue Gallery, New Work, Boston, MA
2018 Gilman Contemporary, Front Row, Ketchum, ID
2017 Lanoue Gallery, Deconstructing Billboards, Boston, MA
2016 Caldwell Snyder Gallery, New Works, San Helena, CA
2016 Joanne Artman Gallery, Not So Plain Jane, New York, NY
2015 Gilman Contemporary, New Works, Sun Valley, ID
2015 Caldwell Snyder Gallery, New Works, San Francisco, CA
2014 Campton Gallery, Layered Life, New York, NY
2013 Lanoue Gallery, New Works, Boston, MA
2013 Caldwell Snyder Gallery, New Works, St. Helena, CA
2012 Campton Gallery, Girl Interrupted, New York, NY
2012 Gilman Contemporary, Coming and Going, Sun Vallery, ID
2011 Campton Gallery, Full Circle, New York, NY
2010 Lanoue Gallery, Go Figure, Boston, MA
2010 Caldwell Snyder, Vintage Hollywood, San Francisco, CA
2010 Victorine Contemporary, New Works, Newport, RI
2009 Campton Gallery, Recent Works, New York, NY
2009 Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Recent Works, San Francisco, CA
2008 Campton Gallery, Figure it Out, New York, NY
2008 Hubert Gallery, Peaches & Tarts, New York, NY
2007 New England Art Institute, S,M,L,XL, Boston, MA
2006 Oylan Gallery, Recent Works, Cambridge, MA
2006 Carney Gallery, What a Doll, Weston, MA
RECENT PUBLICATIONS, AWARDS, HONORS
2019 Selected to create 5-piece Commission for Prince Albert, Monaco
2017 The Boston Globe, The Enthusiast
2016 This Year’s Model, NYU Press
2013 Artscope, Society Women: Jane Maxwell Undresses Pop Culture
2010 30th anniversary edition of “Who’s Who in American Art”
2010 30th anniversary edition of “Who’s Who in American Art”
2008 Mixed Media Collage, Quarry Books
2007 Complete Color Harmony Workbook, Rockport Books
2007Artella Magazine, Issue #10
2007 The Boston Sunday Globe, Paper Dolls That Deliver a Message
2006 Attleboro Arts Museum, Small Works National Juried Art Exhibition
Juror’s Choice Award
2006 Artful Paper Dolls Lark Books
2006 Beyond Paper Dolls Stampington & Co.
2006 Newton Magazine, Icons and Altars
2006 Newton Magazine, Arts Outlook
2006 The Boston Globe, Sidekick Cover and Feature
2006 The Boston Globe, Campus Calendar
2006 The Metrowest Daily News, All Doll-ed Up
2006 The Wayland/Weston Town Crier, Exploring Body Image With Paper Doll Cut-Outs
2006 Middlesex Beat, Fragmented Paper Dolls Reflect Women’s Unease
2005 Collage Sourcebook, Quarry Books Published
2004 The Boston Sunday Globe, People
2003 Collage for the Soul, Rockport Books Published
2003 The Boston Sunday Globe Magazine, Working Order
