Artist Statement

I began painting buildings primarily to document places that appealed to me architecturally. They were places that I was familiar with, comfortable landmarks in my daily commutes.  I found their style appealing: in some cases, I found their decay appealing.  And I was drawn to another aspect of them that isn’t as visible.  Their histories.  Not necessarily the story of who built them and why, but the stories of the people who moved inside them and had experiences within their walls.

When I started to show my work, I hadn’t really considered that there were other people who shared my curiosity and interest in the lives of buildings. Even better, there were people who knew the stories, who were, in fact, the people who interacted with the buildings in my paintings. A wonderful new relationship began to emerge.

I supplied the images and basic history, and the people coming to look supplied the stories.  They told me about families, jobs, loves, and losses related to these places. Some even shed tears telling me a memory that surfaced after years of lying dormant. Hearing these stories fills me with inspiration about the human experience, and inspiration to continue to find more of these special places so I can connect with even more people.

I have always been an introverted person.  Having these paintings as a catalyst for conversation has been such an unexpected gift. They help me to feel much more connected to other people. It’s much less polarized, less scary, and hopefully we all leave having a greater understanding of each other, and the places we live.

Artist Biography

Jean Broden is a lifelong resident of Philadelphia who has been creating art since she was a small child. After attending Moore College of Art, she pursued a career in illustration and graphic design for several years before starting a family. She later returned to education and received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Arcadia University and began a 20-year career as a high school art teacher. While teaching, Broden began to take oil painting classes at Studio Incamminati and never looked back. Broden has taken place in several exhibitions around the Philadelphia area, including some solo shows. Her real love though, are street festivals, where she can interact with art lovers from all walks of life and share her visions of the world around her.

Education

2015
John Cabot University, Rome, Italy

2008 - 2014
Studio Incamminati, Philadelphia, PA
Traditional figure & still-life painting under Natalie Italiano

1998 - 2000
Arcadia University, Glenside, PA
Master of Arts in Education, Fine Arts
Certification in Fine Arts

1979 - 1983
Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor of Fine Arts

‍

Bibliography

2019
Feature article, Northeast Times, July 4

‍

Collections

Public

Saint Hubert Catholic High School
Saint Cecilia Roman Catholic Church‍

‍

Private

Michael Petrocik & Alicia Gasparovic
Charlie & Nancy Salmons
Joseph Petrocik & Myron Clement
Troy Everwine
Lora Durr
Claire DiLullo
Mike Worstall

‍

Private Commissioned Work

James Pepper, Esq.
Amy Haviland Elfant
Kathy & Joseph DiDinato
Carolyn Bernacki, MD
Mike & Laura Schlagnhaufer

‍

Affiliations

Muse Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Member

InLiquid, Philadelphia, PA
Member

Pocono Mountains Arts Council, Tobyhanna, PA
Member

National Art Education Association,
Member

Portrait Society of America
Member

‍

Professional Experience

2019
Tacony LAB, Philadelphia, PA
Teacher, painting workshop

2011 - 2019
Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls, Torresdale, PA
Art Teacher, Fine Art Department Chairperson

2005 - 2011
Lansdale Catholic High School, Lansdale, PA
Art Teacher, Fine Art Department Chairperson

2002 - 2004
Gwynedd Mercy University, Gwynedd Valley, PA
Adjunct Faculty of Art History

1987 - Present
Freelance Illustration, fine art & design commissions

1984 - 1987
Martin Weber Company, Philadelphia, PA
Designer and Art Director

Exhibitions

‍

Solo

2019
Passed//Past, Muse Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

SawTown Tavern, Philadelphia, PA

2013
Elcy's Cafe, Glenside, PA

2010
People, Places & Things, Langhorne Coffee House, Langhorne, PA

‍

Group

2026
By Simply Looking: The Art of Observation, Park Towne Place, Philadelphia, PA

2020
Philly's Freedom, National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, PA
Juried

Trenton Art All Night, Trenton, NJ
Invitational

New Now III, The InLiquid Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2019
Differing Visions, Muse Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Invitational

Winter Artists Show, Art at Valley Lake Gallery, Horsham, PA
Invitational

Mingling with the Masterpieces, Glen Foerd, Philadelphia, PA
Juried

POST @ Tacony LAB, Philadelphia, PA

6th Annual Juried Artist Exhibition, Stover Mill Gallery, Pipersville, PA

Think Outside the Box, Pocono Mountain Arts Council Annual Member's Show, Cresco, PA
Invitational

2018
Inspired, Muse Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Invitational

Winter Artists Show, Art at Valley Lake Gallery, Horsham, PA
Invitational

Think Outside the Box, Pocono Mountain Arts Council Annual Member's Show, Cresco, PA
Invitational

Annual Alumni Show, Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Juried

American Identity, Dunning Art Gallery, Monroe County, PA
Juried

2017
Winter Artists Show, Art at Valley Lake Gallery, Horsham, PA
Invitational

NAEA Member Show, Alexandria, VA
Juried

National Heirloom Expo, Santa Rosa, CA
Juried

Trenton Art All Night, Trenton, NJ
Invitational

2016
Winter Artists Show, Art at Valley Lake Gallery, Horsham, PA
Invitational

Trenton Art All Night, Trenton, NJ
Invitational

2015
Trenton Art All Night, Trenton, NJ
Invitational

2014
Small, but not restricted, Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Juried

Trenton Art All Night, Trenton, NJ
Invitational

2013
Celebrate Art, Huntingdon Valley, PA
Invitational

2012
Celebrate Art, Huntingdon Valley, PA
Invitational

2011
Celebrate Art, Huntingdon Valley, PA
Invitational

2009
Ocean City Annual Juried Art Show, Ocean City, NJ
Juried

2002
Archdiocesan Faculty Exhibit, Villanova, PA
Invitational

‍

Other

2019
Mingle with the Masterpieces, Glen Foerd Mansion, Philadelphia, PA

Holiday Arts Festival, Kalahari Resort, Pocono Manor, PA

Sugarloaf Crafts Festival, Oaks, PA

Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts Festival, Philadelphia, PA

Jenkintown Festival of the Arts, Jenkintown, PA

Manayunk Arts Festival, Philadelphia, PA

Art for the Cash Poor, InLiquid, Philadelphia, PA

Mayfair Arts Festival, Philadelphia, PA

2018
Sugarloaf Crafts Festival, Oaks, PA

POST @ Tacony LAB, Philadelphia, PA

Manayunk Arts Festival, Philadelphia, PA

Holiday Arts Festival, Skytop Lodge, Skytop, PA

Jenkintown Festival of the Arts, Jenkintown, PA

2017
Holiday Arts Festival, Skytop Lodge, Skytop, PA

Jenkintown Festival of the Arts, Jenkintown, PA

2016
Holiday Arts Festival, Skytop Lodge, Skytop, PA

Jenkintown Festival of the Arts, Jenkintown, PA

2015
Peddler's Village Fine Arts & Craft Show, Lahaska, PA
2nd Place, Fine Arts

Holiday Arts Festival at Skytop Lodge, Skytop, PA

Jenkintown Festival of the Arts, Jenkintown, PA

2014
Peddler's Village Fine Arts & Craft Show, Lahaska, PA
2nd Place, Fine Arts

Holiday Arts Festival, Skytop Lodge, Skytop, PA

Jenkintown Festival of the Arts, Jenkintown, PA