J a n e t M a y a
Paintings
Artist statement
My artistic expression centers on advocacy for women's rights, LGBTQ+ issues, and the pursuit of equity and justice. As a gay woman of Colombian and Irish-English descent, I draw deeply from my personal journey and observations of the world. Through my work, I craft figurative pieces characterized by bold brushstrokes and vibrant color palettes. Capturing the nuances of interpersonal dynamics and the complexities of human connection, I translate my experiences and observations into visual narratives. Utilizing faceless figures, I aim to convey the universal essence of human emotion and experience, inviting viewers to connect with the stories depicted on the canvas.
Bio
JANET MAYA
American, born New York 1962
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Education
School of Visual Arts, New York, NY 1983-1986
SUNY Empire State College, NY 2013
Exhibitions
June 22 2024 Robin Rice Gallery Hudson, New York
September 8 2022 Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury, Connecticut
Dec 5 2021 Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury, Connecticut
2020 Marquee Projects, Bellport, New York
2022 Marquee Projects, Bellport, New York
2018 Dovecote, Westport, Connecticut
2017 Dovecote, Westport, Connecticut
2016 Nyack, Summit School New York
2012 Office of the Governor of the State of New York, Washington D.C.
2003 University at Albany, State University of New York
Consulate, New York, New York
2000-01 City Hall, Jersey City, New Jersey
1998 Wizard World Con, Chicago,Illinios
1998 Wizard World Comic Con, Chicago, Illinois
Special Projects/Commissions
PSA (Domestic Violence Services) Dutchess County, New State of New York, documentary
State of New Jersey, documentary
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Scenic Design
Music Videos (various artists)
Showtime at the Apollo
Motion Picture and Brand/Corporate film & video (Michelin, Verizon
New York Times, Nickelodeon)
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Teaching/Workshops
The Summit School, Nyack, New York
YMCA, New York
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Collections
Available Upon Request
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Press
Marquee Projects in Bellport, Long Island presents 'Strangers in Stranger Lands' exhibition
https://www.instagram.com/p/CB0XfELFtvo/?igshid=vrad8h38gldy
"...The soul of the show, however, may be Janet Maya’s 2017 painting, Blessing, with its single faceless female figure holding her hands together in a redemptive gesture of prayer, rendered with the forms and pastels of Milton Avery. Another work by Maya, placed in the gallery’s window, speaks to the hopes and fears of the moment: two almost identical female figures, one black and one white, that achieve a poetic unity despite their outward difference..."
http://deliciousline.org/dq/content/2020-07-20T1625/
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"...Janet Maya’s partially erased faces depict Quaker-like humility congruent with a loss of identity. My gaze lingers over the balance and reversals of Girls 2, returning for refreshment to four submerged feet..."
Contact
