Forgotten Women: A Portrait Exhibit by Jennifer Kohn Murtha

Program Type:

Art, Movies & Music, History & Genealogy, Race, Equity & Inclusion

Age Group:

Teens, Adults
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Event Details

"I was born, I paint," declares Jennifer Kohn Murtha, encapsulating a lifelong passion in just four words.

Amidst her bustling schedule, filled with portrait commissions, Jennifer found herself unusually stumped for inspiration. Looking for something or someone to paint, she turned to Pinterest, renowned as a repository for portrait artists, in hopes of unearthing a spark. There she found a beautiful black and white photograph of a woman from the 19th century, whose face intrigued her so much that she started a large watercolor portrait that same day. Jennifer found herself drawn in by the narrative woven by the photograph and her evolving painting. Who was she? Why was she so elaborately dressed and formally posed? A forgotten woman, thought Jennifer, but not by me. Thus began Jennifer’s odyssey into the realm of “Forgotten Women,” a poignant portrait series unfolding on her easel over the course of months.

Jennifer invites viewers to join her on a journey through time and memory with an exhibit of her work.

  • Exhibit, Saturday, March 16, 11 - 1 pm, 2 - 5 pm (exhibit will be closed from 1 - 2 pm for lunch)
  • Exhibit, Sunday, March 17, 1 - 4 pm

Through her artist talk, Jennifer offers a glimpse into the stories behind the portraits, inviting others to discover the beauty and resilience of these forgotten women.

  • Artist Talk, Saturday, March 16, at 11 am & 2 pm
  • Artist Talk, Sunday, March 17,  at 2 pm

Registration preferred. Please register with an email address to receive an event reminder.

About the artist: Jennifer Kohn Murtha

Portrait painter, Jennifer Kohn Murtha, maintains her studio in bucolic Baltimore County. She has studied with some of Baltimore's best portrait painters, including Ann Didusch Schuler, Elizabeth Byrd Mitchell, Henry Cooper and Palden Hamilton and is a graduate of the storied Schuler School of Fine Art. After graduation, Jennifer has continued to refine her skills with Matt Zoll and Robert Liberace, both known for their commitment to the classical way, and by studying also the great masters of the past.Painting full-time, Jennifer undertakes both commissioned and non-commissioned portraits, and she has taught numerous workshops for novices and professionals alike. Her work is in collections across the United States, Europe and Africa, with one painting notably purchased by HBO for their program “Veep.” Additionally, Jennifer was filmed painting a portrait of a breast cancer survivor at a landmark benefit hosted by The Portrait Society of America and The Zoll Studio, for a documentary called “The Cure,” shown at the Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Films and the Academy Awards in 2015. In essence, Jennifer says: "I was born, I paint."

This session is part of HCLS' Women's History Month series. Please click here for the complete schedule of classes and events.