Judy Herman: Seeing Beyond the Subject in Painting, Photography, and Collage
Judy Herman, an artist from Los Angeles County, defies simple classification through her diverse work in painting, photography, collage, and writing. At just nine years old, she began her artistic education with Lucille Krasne at the Pasadena Art Museum, where she honed her skills in color, shape, texture, and composition. Herman often emphasizes formal elements, transforming original references through her techniques. Her landscapes, such as one inspired by the Kern River Valley in California, prioritize structural energy over geographical precision. She utilizes unconventional materials, including a 100 by 90-inch artwork created on packing material from Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula. With a background in Spanish literature and library science, she previously worked as a reference librarian before dedicating herself to art. Recent works include 'Faces of Cuba', 'Women of Vietnam', and 'Mother Nature Strikes Back'.
Key facts
- Judy Herman is based in Los Angeles County.
- She works in painting, photography, collage, and writing.
- At age nine, she studied with Lucille Krasne at the Pasadena Art Museum.
- Krasne's exercises focused on color, shape, texture, and composition rather than naming objects.
- Herman prioritizes formal qualities over recognizable subject matter.
- She digitally altered a landscape of California's Kern River Valley to emphasize structural energy.
- She paints on unconventional surfaces including window screens, shower curtains, and packing materials.
- A monumental landscape of Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula is 100 by 90 inches on packing material.
- Collage allows her to rearrange elements organically, embracing chance and intuition.
- Digital tools have expanded her practice into layered photography and digital art.
- Her academic background includes Spanish literature, library science, and linguistics.
- She worked as a reference librarian at the Los Angeles Central Library.
- She has attended a weekly gallery-visiting group for over two decades.
- She was a founding member and past president of the Photographic and Digital Artists affiliate at the Palos Verdes Art Center.
- Recent projects include shaped and sculptural photographs integrating poetry.
- Travel series include 'Faces of Cuba' and 'Women of Vietnam'.
- Climate crisis series is titled 'Mother Nature Strikes Back'.
- Her writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Slate, and Afterimage.
Entities
Artists
- Judy Herman
- Lucille Krasne
Institutions
- Pasadena Art Museum
- Los Angeles Central Library
- Palos Verdes Art Center
- Photographic and Digital Artists
- Los Angeles Times
- Slate
- Afterimage
Locations
- Los Angeles County
- California
- Kern River Valley
- Costa Rica
- Osa Peninsula
- Cuba
- Vietnam
- Southern California
- Patagonia
- West Papua
Sources
- AATONAU —