Judy Pfaff’s work always delights me with unexpected bursts of color, unconventional materials and compositional choices. I have been a devoted follower of this artist for many years because of her unique ability to create immersive images and environments seemingly out of common elements. On a recent trip to my hometown of York, Pennsylvania, I visited Judy Pfaff’s exhibition Somewhere Before at York College.
Pfaff, who was born in London, England in 1946, has built an impressive career that includes a Macarthur ‘Genius’ award, exhibitions at the Whitney and MOMA, and representing the United States in the 1998 Biennial in San Paolo Brazil. The artist has also been featured on the Art 21 PBS series, which gives intimate insight into her creative process.
I was excited not only for this exhibition, but to see it displayed in a region not typically celebrated for exhibiting internationally known contemporary art. Many years ago, while attending high school in the area, I begged my mother for a reprieve from being grounded so that I could attend a Jeff Koons lecture and exhibition at York College. Koons also grew up in the area, and my attendance at the lecture that evening solidified my passion and determination to pursue the visual arts. Judy Pfaff’s show left me with a similar jolt of energy and fervor; this powerful exhibit is capable of reviving an artist’s spirit.
