Renowned Luminous Still Life Painter Janet Fish Dies at 87
Janet Fish, a prominent still life painter, passed away at the age of 87 on December 11, 2023. She died at her home in Wells, Vermont. Fish’s husband, Charles Parness, confirmed that she succumbed to complications from a brain hemorrhage.
Early Life and Education
Born on May 18, 1938, in Boston, Janet Isobel Fish was immersed in an artistic family. Her father, Peter Fish, was an art historian, while her mother, Florence Whistler Fish, was a sculptor and the daughter of Impressionist painter Clark Voorhees. The family relocated to Bermuda when Janet was ten, where the vibrant colors of the island had a profound impact on her artistic vision.
Fish earned a bachelor’s degree from Smith College in 1960. She then attended Yale University, where she received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fine arts. There, she studied alongside esteemed artists like Chuck Close and Richard Serra. Her time at Yale was marked by a struggle to define her artistic direction, as she resisted the prevailing styles of Abstract Expressionism.
Artistic Career
Fish emerged on the New York City art scene in the early 1960s, rejecting trends like Minimalism and Pop Art. Instead, she dedicated herself to still life painting. She found beauty in everyday objects, transforming jars of pickles and bottles into captivating studies of light and form.
Signature Style
Renowned for her unique approach, Fish often painted from life rather than photographs. She focused on how light interacted with the objects, allowing her perception to evolve over time. “Still life always seemed, to me, the wrong word, because it’s not dead,” Fish once remarked, emphasizing the dynamic nature of her subjects.
Recognition and Legacy
Her first significant exhibition took place in 1971 at the Kornblee Gallery, garnering critical acclaim. Art critics hailed her ability to capture light, with The New York Times’ Hilton Kramer praising her “marvelous gift for rendering” transparent objects. Over her career, Fish’s work was acquired by prestigious institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art. Some pieces have been sold for over $200,000.
- Major collections: Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- National Gallery of Art
Fish’s paintings displayed complexity and an evolving style, often incorporating mirrors, landscapes, and various materials. Art historian Linda Nochlin celebrated her ability to imbue ordinary objects with dignity and poetic solemnity.
Personal Life
Fish’s personal life included two marriages that ended in divorce. She married Charles Parness in 2006, a fellow artist. In addition to Parness, she is survived by her siblings, Alida and Winthrop Fish.
Throughout her life, Janet Fish remained dedicated to her artistic vision. Her legacy as a luminous still life painter endures, highlighting the beauty and vibrancy of everyday life through her stunning renderings.
