* All images used with permission. Please do not distribute without first contacting the artist.
Originally from Minnesota, Michelle Jader now lives and works in San Francisco, California. She worked for nearly 10 years as a marketing consultant before following her heart and earning an MFA in fine art painting from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco.
Her work explores moments when we willingly and unwillingly dive into the next phase of our life. Whether it’s moving to a new city, starting or ending a relationship, having a baby, or quitting a job, these moments of endings and beginnings are alternately terrifying and exhilarating. We jump, dive or fall, armed only with faith in ourselves, as our lives change.
Transitions like these include the sense of falling, lack of control, and the feeling that anything is possible. We’re vulnerable in these moments and despite our efforts, our actions seem to be more public than other times in our lives. To capture these feelings, Michelle paints a series of images on semi-transparent, acrylic panels. The push and pull inherent in viewing different images on separate surfaces support the work’s theme and provide an exciting way for Michelle to paint motion, change and emotional release.
