B.F.A. magna cum laude, Maryland Institute College of Art, 1976
In college, I studied painting with the late Ed Dugmore and came under the influence of the German Expressionists: Nolde, Munch, Bacon, Kollwitz, Ernst. My work at that time was dark and moody, with figurative elements half-buried in the space, emerging to the surface in ambiguous ways. Sometimes the surface was well -worked, the layering of color inciting surprise. Later, my painting presented clearer images in a more definite space: the psychology of emotion put under the light. In my drawings, I made figures in a space suited to them, something that made the central metaphor succinct. This gave rise to a new focus: using the semi- abstract head in an abstract space. To connect the head to its surroundings, I add tacks, viaducts, tubes, railroad tracks, stitches, etc. This establishes the psychological relationship between head and space. One critic described this work (as shown in my two books), "mysterious, subtly erotic; the graphic equivalent of black humor."
COLLECTIONS
I began to take portrait commissions in 1978, painting the subjects realistically. Now I portray my subjects in a semi- expressionistic way, i.e. with undistorted features but using color and texture more freely, the setting an abstract space. These works and others hang in several dozen homes, and my patrons' names are available upon request.
MAJOR EXHIBITIONS
The Drawing Center , NYC, 1986
Strathmore Hall, Washington D.C., 1990, 1991
DC Space, Washington, D.C., 1987
Spaces, Cleveland, Ohio, 1988-2001
Janet Snell has had solo shows in Baltimore, Washington, Cleveland, and her hometown of Akron , as well as over forty group shows.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Flytrap - a collection of drawings with verse commentary (Cleveland State University Poetry Center)
Heads - a compilation of paintings and verse (March Street Press)
Janet Snell's work has appeared in many literary magazines including: River Oak Review, Mudfish, Artful Dodge, Gargoyle, and The New York Art Review.
Reviewers have characterized Snell's work as "enigmatic", "unique and ground-breaking"( J.M Bennet, PLGC Newsletter). "Snell sees with the eyes of a scientist. Her depictions of behaviors--- are cool and hard, defying---sentiment." "Captivating in its possibilities, Snell snares the reader into her web of psychological intrigue."(T.J. Jewell, Calyx magazine)
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