A long-time collector of quirky stuffed animals, Jennifer Maher Coleman often turned to them as subject matter in her early years as a painter. The birth of her daughter in 2008 revived Jennifer’s interest in documenting unique toys, especially those most special to baby Sonja. This concept expanded as other parents began requesting portraits of their own children’s beloved stuffed animals. In addition to commissioned work, a series of large-scale paintings of classic and vintage toys is an ongoing project. In recent years Jennifer’s definition of “toy” has expanded to include portraits of iconic music gear. She also paints plenty of pets as well as house portraits for realtors to present to their clients as closing gifts.
“My current work making “portraits” of iconic music gear has evolved out of my decades long project of documenting examples of classic toys of all kinds. Since I’m a musician as well as a painter, I tend to depict these objects at a considerably larger-than-life scale to reflect their monumental stature as tools for catharsis and creativity. I love them as pieces of shining architecture and also as representatives even stand-ins for the people who use them. This idea is an important theme for me, as I make many portraits of people or families “as” their favorite toys, plastic figures or stuffed animals posed in their places. In the case of these paintings of instruments, I intend the pieces to evoke the music and the imply the invisible hands upon them.”
Originally from Chicago, Jennifer now lives and paints in Upstate New York. She holds undergraduate degrees in both Fine Arts and English Writing from Knox College in Galesburg, IL, and an MA and an MFA in painting from the State University of New York Albany. She fronts two synth-pop bands, Architrave and Haley Moley, and is a semi-retired DJ.
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