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Janet Link is a still life painter whose work is overtly concerned with composition. Within the picture the objects function primarily as shapes of varying color, texture and value. She often includes strong horizontal and vertical elements as a kind of armature on which to hang the composition. The objects that are the subjects of her pictures are not chosen arbitrarily – she is attracted to some because of their form and some because of their symbolic potential or personal significance. Link has a collection of objects in her studio that is kept in a constantly changing tableau which functions like a kind of dialogue between her, the objects and pictures of the objects – in this way her subjects have as much impact on her as she does upon them. Although design is an important concern for Link she also strives to create a convincing illusion of form and space as described by light. She works in this manner to provide herself with an evolving challenge. On the subject of realism she does not feel that she can improve upon the words of Mark Doty in Still Life with Oysters and Lemons: “That there can never be too much of reality; that the attempt to draw nearer to it – which will fail – will not fail entirely, as it will give us not the fact of lemons and oysters but this, which is its own fact, its own brave assay toward what is.” The content of Link’s pictures is often meant to imply meaning – but it is not meant to project a particular meaning. She prefers to leave the extraction of a message up to the viewer.

Link has lived most of her life in Raleigh, NC. She holds a BA in studio art from Meredith College, Raleigh. In the late 80’s and early 90’s she studied with Ben Long. She earned an MFA at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, where she studied with Michael Crespo. She has worked as a professional artist since 1989. Link is currently a member of the adjunct faculty at Meredith College. She lives and works in Raleigh with her husband and the Soup Doggy Dogs.

janetlink@mac.com