Janet Taylor Pickett was born Janet Erline Taylor on August 13th, 1948 to Ethel Beard Taylor and Dempsey Taylor, Jr., both now deceased. She lived for 13 years in Ypsilanti Michigan, and then, she and her parents moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Upon her graduation from Ann Arbor High School (now known as Pioneer High), she attended The University of Michigan School of Art and Design. From there she graduated with a BFA and then went to Graduate School to receive an MFA from the U of M. She has also studied at Parsons School of Design, FIT, and the Vermont Studio School.
She became supervisor of the Junior Museum of the Newark Museum in 1973. Then in 1974 she began teaching full time at Essex County College, where she became a full professor. She is now retired after over 30 years of teaching. She is now teaching as an adjunct professor at Bloomfield College.
Janet has a daughter, Samantha Taylor Pickett, an attorney who resides in Los Angeles California.
Ms. Pickett has been an active member of the art community of Montclair for many years. She has received many awards and has had numerous exhibitions around the state as well as the nation. Her work can be found in numerous private collections, museums, galleries, as well as the American Consulate in San Jose/Limon, Costa Rica. She has also exhibited internationally.
She has been the recipient of awards from:
•The Ford Foundation•the New Jersey State Council of the Arts•the Mid-Atlantic State Arts Council•Pilchuck School of Glass artist fellowship•The Valpariso Foundation of Mojcar, Spain, as well as others.Her work is also part of private collections, public commissions, The University of Michigan School of Social Work collection, as well as museum collections.
Her most recent group and solo exhibitions are :
oTranscultural New Jersey: Diverse Artists Shaping Culture and Communities at the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum - Volumes one and two of the catalog publicationoThe Monmouth Museum in Threaded Through The Fiber Arts - Culture and MemoriesoThe Noyes Museum – Icons, Symbols & AltersoThe Montclair Museum – Celebrating 90 YearsoThe commemorative poster for the 30th Anniversary of the Newark Black Film Festival 2004oThe Newark Museum Community Gallery – “Art Explores Religion”, and “Growing Up – Childhood in Art” at the Montclair Art Museum September 2003oSolo exhibition at The University of Eastern New Mexico in 2004oLandor Fine Arts Gallery Newark, NJ 2005oSolo Exhibition Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, PA Jan. 2006oVisiting Lecturer Miami Dade College February 2006oGallery 51 Montclair, NJ 2006oAppearance on WWOR TV – “Real Talk” Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007o“Great Light Way” Giant Light Bulb Public art Commission about energy saving in West Orange, New JerseyoWHYY Public Television in PA - Brandywine Printmaking Workshop Documentary – Began airing August 28, 2007oMy Hometown Channel 63 wmbc-tv May 2008oSolo Exhibition – Lafayette College Portlock Black Cultural Center, Easton, PA 2008oSummit Medical Group – The Art of Healing : The Healing Power of Art 2008oArt in The Atrium – Morristown, NJ 2008oArt in The Atrium – Morristown, NJ 2009oImlay Fine Art – Montclair, NJ Vestments and Vessels 2009oSophia Wanamaker Galleries of the Costa Rican North American Cultural Center – 2008oUniversity of Costa Rica – Limon, Costa Rica 2009oSophia Wanamaker Galleries – Ecos in la Sangre exhibition, San Jose, Costa Rica; 2009She has also completed a limited edition of hand colored intaglios in an artist’s handmade book called “Me and Matisse” which is now in the collection of the Montclair Art Museum. She has completed three limited edition prints out of The Brandywine Printmaking Workshop in Philadelphia, PA – 2007 From the Middle Passage Series. Janet Taylor Pickett is now a member of the board of trustees of The Montclair Art Museum.
She also has a collection of fine art cards for purchase, which may be special ordered here. Janet also created and designed and embellished “handbags” in a episode of a new series on HGTV called ‘Crafters Coast to Coast’ (episode #129), also known as “That’s Clever”. Janet has also appeared in a documentary film called “Working Title: Exploring the Vocational Identity of the Contemporary American Artist” produced by Phil Lane of New York City and directed by Jon Givens of San Francisco, California. You may visit the website to view a trailer of the film – www.workingtitle.tv – as well as order the DVD.
For a copy of her resume please download here
You may contact her here
or
where you will find more images of her work
© 2009 Janet Taylor Pickett. All Rights Reserved.
