About The Artist
Jennifer Hudson is an award winning Maryland based cut paper artist and painter. She began her career as a painter with an emphasis on realistic nature scenes and fantasy-based illustrations. She graduated from the Baltimore School for the Arts in 2014 with a concentration in painting. After graduating Hudson became intrigued by the world of contemporary paper art. She uses various sized knives to hand cut delicate works that display movement, texture and dimension. She combines several layers of cut paper to attain highly detailed three-dimensional works. Hudson’s love of the natural world is evident in the use of flora and animals in her work. She specializes in wild life art. Continuing motifs include foxes, birds, horses and delicate lace-like structures. She became a member of the Guild of American Paper cutters in 2020 and a member of the International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists in 2024. Hudson is also a signature member of the Society of Animal Artists. She has shown her work in numerous galleries and museums across the United States. She has sold over 200 pieces of original work. When she is not creating Hudson enjoys spending time with her two dogs.
Artist Statement
It is my goal to capture the movement, story and spirit of the animals I portray. I want the viewer to feel engaged with the story unfolding in the scenes I depict. I have always been an avid animal lover and enjoy documenting the natural world in my work. Most of my work is inspired by the landscapes, wildlife and flora around me. My paper cutting journey started as an experiment. I had an assortment of papers intended for my paintings. The papers were so beautiful on their own, I didn’t want to layer pigment on top for fear of ruining them. The goal then, was to see what I could accomplish using just the paper. Equipping myself a scalpel knife, I began cutting images into the paper and instantly fell in love with the medium. I have evolved my process since then. Over the years of exploring this delicate art I have developed my own signature illustrative style. I combine several layers of lace-like hand cut paper to achieve a sculptural effect. My pieces are known for my use of intricate hand cut borders that surround my subjects. My heavily detailed images display dynamic movement and texture. Many of my pieces contain 14-20 layers of paper. Every piece is an engineering challenge. I often start with a small proto-type or “mock up” to test that the paper will lay the way I need it to and that the image will be legible. From there I can start planning out all the layers I will need for the final piece. When it comes to creating patterns, most of what I cut is free hand. I rarely draw out my designs before cutting them. I prefer the spontaneity and fluidity that comes from creating on the spot. I enjoy challenging myself to create new elaborate designs.
Hudson has participated in exhibitions both nationally and across Maryland including:
The Baltimore School for the Arts Segal Gallery, Baltimore Maryland- Ongoing 2012-2014
Hotel Brexton, Baltimore Maryland- ongoing 2015-2016
Night Owl Gallery, Highlandtown Maryland- Women’s Show 2016
Vintage Vault and Gallery, Ellicott City Maryland– Self titled solo show 2016
Howard County Center for the Arts, Ellicott City Maryland- Art Howard County 2017- First Place and Jurors choice winner
Art Maryland 2018
Art Howard County 2021- Third place winner
EC250 Artifacts Exhibit 2022
Art Maryland 2022- honorable mention
Howard County Open 2024
Howard County Community College, Columbia Maryland- Storybook solo show 2018
Horse Spirit Arts Gallery, Savage Maryland- Paper and paint 2019 Resurgence show 2020
Artful Gifts 2020
New Art New Year 2021
Coming Through Strong 2021
Artful Gifts 2021
Colors Of Spring 2022
The Art of Giving 2022
The Pattern’s Edge 2023
Finish Strong! 2023
Old Courthouse Art Center, Woodstock Illinois- J and K Isacson Fantasy and Fiction show 2021- Third place and Blue-Ribbon Biafarin award
Highfield Hall and Gardens, Falmouth Massachusetts- GAP Understory Papercutters Exhibit 2022
JKR Gallery, Provo Utah- Autumn Apparitions show 2022
Janice Mason Art Museum, Cadiz Kentucky- SAA show Encounters with the Animal Kingdom 2023
Panama City Arts Center, Panama City Florida – GAP Tales and Songs show- 2023
McCord Gallery and Cultural Center, Palos Park Illinois – That Face! Portrait show 2023
MFA Circle Gallery, Annapolis Maryland – MFA Art on Paper show 2023
MFA After Dark- Night Scene Show 2024- First Place and Jurors Choice Winner
Martha Spak Gallery, Washington D.C. – Art in Bloom Cherry Blossom Exhibit 2023
Columbia Arts Center , Columbia Maryland – Spring show Blossoms of Hope 2023
Beyond the Blues Invitational Show 2024
Highlandtown Gallery, Baltimore Maryland- Holiday pop up 2023
Stifel Fine Arts Center, Wheeling West Virginia- Society of Animal Artist 63rd Annual Exhibition and Touring Show 2023
Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum, Ordell New Jersey- SAA 63rd Exhibition Tour- 2024
Dane G. Hansen Museum, Logan Kansas- SAA 63rd Exhibition tour 2024
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago Illinois- SAA 63rd Exhibition tour 2024
Peninsula Gallery, Lewes Delaware- The Art of Storytelling show 2024
Rehoboth Art League, Rehoboth Delaware- The Paper Forest solo show 2024
Ghost Gallery, Seattle Washington- Capsule Collection 2024
Eastside Artists Gallery, Fredrick Maryland- Juried Invitational Show 2024
Manor Mill Gallery, Monkton Maryland- Birds: Avian Exploration Invitational Show 2024
View Arts Center, Old Forge New York- GAP Paper Trails Exhibit 2024
Hive Artspace, York Pennsylvania - Aviary III 2024
TAG Fredrick, Fredrick Maryland- Le Salon 2024
Cecil College, Cecil County Maryland- Solo Show 2024
Washington County Arts Council, Hagerstown Maryland- Forest of Dreams 2025
The Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix Arizona- Society of Animal Artist Exhibit A Boundless World 2025
Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo Maryland Solo Show 2025
Education:
Painting Instruction With Artist Brenda Kidera- 2010-2012
The Baltimore School For The Arts- Graduated 2014
Gallery Representation:
Horse Spirit Arts Gallery, Savage Maryland- 2018-2023
Ghost Gallery, Seattle Washington- 2024-Present
Peninsula Gallery, Lewes Delaware- 2024-Present
Juror Experience:
Rehoboth Art League- Piece by Piece Collage Show 2024- https://www.rehobothartleague.org/exhibitions/upcoming/piece-by-piece-collage/
Teaching Experience:
Private Art Instructor- 2017-2019
Private Portfolio Preparation Instructor- 2019-2020
Cut Paper Instructor- Horse Spirit Arts Gallery 2021-2023
Featured Interviews:
Guild of American Papercutters First Cut Newsletter - 2022
Canvas Rebel Magazine - 2023- https://canvasrebel.com/meet-jennifer-hudson/
Coastal Style Magazine- 2024- https://coastalstylemag.com/inspiring-dimension/
Grant Awards:
I Am Creativity Grant First Place Recipient 2024
Organizations:
Guild of American Papercutters ( GAP ) since 2020
Society of Animal Artists Signature Member ( SAA ) since 2022
The International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists ( IAPMA ) since 2024