J.B. Berkow

J. B. BERKOW — Producing exquisite works of stunning realism, J. B. Berkow has been showing professionally for the last twenty-five years. Capturing a special kind of richness and strength, her paintings reflect her mastery of the art of values and contrast. JB’s recurring theme is to place man-made objects into the lushness of a natural setting. She feels pitting one against the other heightens the beauty of both.

She believes her passion for European scenes comes from how she was raised. Coming to America when she was 15, JB's mother continued to retain her heritage into adulthood and raised JB in a very traditional European manner. Her intense love and reverence for the age and beauty of her chosen subjects comes through in the intricate details and rich colors that she mixes and tubes herself. JB Berkow’s work has such an overpowering sense of reality that most people feel they can enter her scenes by just walking into the canvas. One art critic recently described it as, "art you can live in.

Inspired by the beauty of Tuscany and Venice and the quiet solitude of the English and French countryside, J. B. Berkow analyzes hundreds of photographs in her Florida studio before piecing each part together. When she is finished she comes up with the perfect composition, where each work conveys a special feeling to the viewer.

"My work evolves into realism. But before it reaches this final realistic state, it is painted in a continuous series of abstractions. Therefore, realism, for me, is a simple stringing together of abstractions." - J.B. Berkow

"My greatest joy comes when, after carefully assembling all of these small elements, they come together as an image of overall beauty prompting the viewer to want to escape in their completed puzzle of realistic illusion."- J.B. Berkow

ART RESUME

SELECTED PUBLIC AND CORPORATE COLLECTIONS:

The Vatican’s Museum for Contemporary Art, Vatican City, Italy
Boston University, Boston, MA
West Palm Beach International Airport, West Palm Beach, FL
The Martin Agency, David Martin, President, Richmond, VA
Zimmerman, McGee, Rose & Grey Advertising Agency, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Fiduciary and General Corporation, Indianapolis, IN
Governors Club, West Palm Beach, FL
Boehm Porcelain, Helen Boehm, President, London, New York and Palm Beach
Gerald Tsai, New York and Palm Beach
Minkoff Builders, Inc., Bethesda, MD and Palm Beach, FL
The Meyer Companys, Palm Beach, FL
Schmidt and Preston Associates, Boca Raton, FL
Devonshire, Inc., Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Kirby Pines, Memphis, TN

RECENT SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
*denotes award **denotes SOLO exhibition (10 or more paintings):

2000
The Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach, FL
Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens Museum, W. Palm Beach, FL
**Schacknow Museum of Fine Art, Plantation, FL
1999
**Frenchman’s Art Gallery, Juno Beach, FL
**Chasen Galleries, Richmond, VA
1998
**Coral Spring Museum of Fine Arts, Coral Springs, FL
*Jeanette Hare Gallery, Northwood University, West Palm Beach, FL
1997
*Jeanette Hare Gallery, Northwood University, West Palm Beach, FL
Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL, All Florida Juried Exhibition
1996
Lighthouse Gallery, Tequesta, FL
*Jeanette Hare Gallery, Northwood University, West Palm Beach, FL
Armory Art Center, West Palm Beach, FL
1995
**Venable Neslage Gallery, Washinton, DC
1994
**Frenchman’s Art Gallery, Juno Beach, FL
**Governor’s Club of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach, FL
1993
Venable Neslage Gallery, Washington, DC
Lafayette Art Association International Juried Competition, Lafayette, LA
*Artist’s Registry, Washington, DC, "Invest in American Art Juried Competition"
1992
**Boston University, Boston, MA
1991
**Mari Hubæ Gallerie, New York, NY

SCHOOLING:
Maryland Institute of Art in Baltimore, MD., American University and the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, DC, studying under Brockie Stevenson, Blaine Larson and Joseph Sheppard.

FOUNDER AND CREATOR OF:
Touchstone Gallery, Washington, D.C., 1976
Frenchman’s Art Gallery, Juno Beach, FL, 1994

MEMBER OF:
Past President and member of the Florida Chapter of National Association of Women Artists
President of Frenchman’s Art Gallery and Studios
Board Member of the Jewish Art’s Foundation
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Norton’s Artist Guild and Art Museum

SELECTED ARTICLES:
1999 The Jewish Times (Feature Article)
1996 The Sun-Sentinel, The Palm Beach Post
1995 The Washington Post
1992 The Boston Globe
1981 Palm Beach Society Magazine (Feature Article)
1980 Palm Beach Life Magazine
1977 Today’s Art (Feature Article)
1977 What’s Up in Art
1976 The Washington Post, Forcast Magazine

GALLERIES WHERE JB BERKOW'S WORK HAS BEEN RECENTLY EXIBITED:
New River Art Gallery, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Chasen Galleries, Sarasota, Florida
Chasen Galleries, Richmond, Virginia
Douglas Albert Gallery, St. College, Pennsylvania
Gabrielle Art and Frame, Paramus New Jersey
Severn Galerie, Metarie, Louisiana
Profile Galleries, Jupiter, Florida
Profile Galleries, Stuart, Florida
West End Galleries, West Palm Beach, Florida
Frenchman’s Art Gallery, Juno Beach, Florida
Principles Gallery, Canada