MARY FRANCES JUDGE

ART EXPRESS

Mary Frances Judge's NYC downtown art scene;1985 to 1987
mixed media (mural size paintings)

Artist Statement: this series of paintings captures the influential figures I sought to connect with — noted artists, mentors of my generation, and art dealers of Soho and the East Village, including Jean–Michel Basquiat, Mary Boone, and Leo Castelli. They are portrayed in my paintings as riding the subway express "buried" under paint washes, symbolizing my desire to be propelled to success alongside them. I fantasized about sharing a subway car with the legendary Leo Castelli, and grappled with the dilemma of balancing networking with creative expression. Through these works, I explored the tension between seeking validation and focusing on the art itself.