Fish on Target Collage by Julie Dermansky, 1993

Regular price $60.00

I found this collage at the flea market and really loved the juxtaposition of the cutout fish (I believe painted on photo paper, with these great lightening bolt-like gills) and the target to which it is glued, not knowing anything about J. Dermansky. I've since figured out that the J. stands for Julie, and that the artist, who created many collages in a similar vein early in her career, is now well known as a photojournalist and activist, including for environmental causes. This piece thus makes perfect sense, takes on deeper meaning, and stands I think as a great early example of this artist's work and enduring interests.

Born in 1966 in New York, Dermansky studied ceramics and sculpture at Tulane/Newcomb College and Arizona State University.  From 1990-1997 she operated JSD, a storefront gallery on Elizabeth Street in NYC, where she held happenings and exhibitions, along with exhibiting regularly and completing a series of public art installations by the Percent for Art program prior to leaving New York. Since 2005, she has worked as a photojournalist and multimedia reporter documenting society’s impact on the natural world and social injustice. Currently she is based in New Orleans and is an affiliate scholar at the Rutgers University Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights. Her photographs have been published by The Atlantic, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, The Times of London, The New York Times, The Washington Post, the DailyBeast, Bloomberg and elsewhere. Much more about her and her work here. 

This piece measures 12" tall x 10 1/2" wide. Signed and dated at bottom center. There is a fair amount of staining and foxing to the surface of the cardstock-weight target sheet, which I actually think adds to the work. It is sold unframed.