About the Artist: Kathy Jakobsen
About Kathy Jakobsen
Kathy Jakobsen is one of the premier folk artists in the United States. She describes her art as "food for the Spirit ... I want to create an uplifting, WOW! feeling in the viewer." Her work has extraordinary visual appeal. The Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century American Folk Art and Artists states: "Kathy Jakobsen is regarded as one of the best landscape folk painters of the century."
Kathy grew up happily in Michigan with her brothers and numerous pets. Her mother, a talented portrait and landscape painter, encouraged Kathy to paint in oils at an early age.
The appeal of her work is heightened by a variety of brilliant colors, sensitive detail and the unique combination of activity and peace. Whether she is painting midwestern farms or New York City skyscrapers, Kathy's unique vision and personality are captured with her brush and radiate through her work.
Artist Jakobsen's paintings have toured the U.S., Europe and Japan. They are included in many permanent collections, including the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., the American Folk Art Museum in New York, and the New York Transit Museum. She has done many private commissions and was selected for public special commissions such as her painting for the "Easter at the White House" collection, and Family Circle Magazine's "Tree of Life," and also an Absolut Jakobsen ad.
Since 1976, she has completed over 600 oil paintings. Since 1990, with her three children as inspiration, she has done the oil paintings for the critically acclaimed books Johnny Appleseed by Reeve Lindbergh, and the beloved Woody Guthrie song, This Land Is Your Land. Her latest book, the new and expanded My New York, New Anniversary Edition, was called "dazzling" by People Magazine and "wonderful" by the mayor of New York City. All are published by Little, Brown & Co., Time Warner Book Group.
In 2004, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of New York commissioned her to create an original oil to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the New York subway system. It was made into posters for display in all the subway stations, and published as a fine art limited edition by the MTA, with proceeds to benefit the Transit Museum.
Kathy is represented by the Frank Miele Gallery in New York City and Gallerie Je Reviens in Westport CT.
Kathy Jakobsen's Books for Children
- My New York, by Kathy Jakobsen. New Anniversary Edition, 2003.
- This Land Is Your Land, by Woody Guthrie, illustrated by Kathy Jakobsen. 1998.
- Meet Me in the Magic Kingdom, by Kathy Jakobsen. 1995.
- Johnny Appleseed, by Reeve Lindbergh, illustrated by Kathy Jakobsen. 1990.
More About Kathy
- Kathy Jakobsen
A biography from the 2006 Rabbit Hill Festival of Literature in Westport, CT. - Innocence of Vision: A 25 year retrospective of Kathy Jakobsen, American folk artist, author, and Illustrator
This is a background page for an exhibit that was featured at Housatonic [Community College] Museum of Art in Bridgeport in 2001. Includes several articles about the artist, an image gallery, and list of books. - Kathy Jakobsen: An Artist of the People
Noteworthy article from the above exhibit. - Stave Puzzles Print Portfolio: Kathy Jakobsen
View 35 Kathy Jakobsen prints on the site of this custom puzzle company.