Biography
Jennifer Gorman-Strawbridge was born and raised in rural Chester County, where she learned to appreciate the rolling hills and open spaces of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Her love of the outdoors drew her to explore the mountain states in her teens; and family vacations on the rocky shores of Maine and Cape Cod exposed her to the dramatic New England coastline. In 2017, she moved to New Hope, Pennsylvania, to immerse herself in its vibrant and thriving art community and life in a river town. Her art reflects a life connected to the land, a love of the seasons, and a deep appreciation for the environment. Her work is about connection to place and an intimacy with open space. Thick juicy paint, intentional brushwork, and a strong sense of design result in expressive paintings in an impressionistic style that convey mood and the effects of light and atmosphere, captivating the viewer and evoking a sense of serenity and familiarity.
Jennifer earned her BA in fine arts and philosophy from Hamilton College, and has pursued numerous art workshops and courses, studying under various accomplished and award-winning artists. Having retired from a career in marketing, communications and event planning, she now devotes herself fully to her painting practice, working from her New Hope studio or en plein air, where she is able to marry her love of the outdoors with her passion for capturing the beauty and wonder found in nature. Jennifer shows her work regularly in exhibitions at various venues and local galleries throughout the year. You can keep updated with her work and exhibition schedule by visiting her website or following her social media.
Artist Statement
Nature as my muse…
Mark-making fleeting moments:
color, texture, reflection.
Art-making in any form is an important outlet for me and an area of continued study and growth. Ever since I can remember, creating has been a source of joy and sustenance where I can get lost in the process, immersed in a sense of flow. Oil paint is my preferred medium because I love its vibrancy, malleability and durability. Capturing the effects of light, shadow, and reflection on a scene is what appeals to me most.
I create representational paintings in a loose, impressionistic style, and aim to capture moments and memories that invite viewers to pause and appreciate their surroundings. I have always loved to be outdoors and believe in the restorative power of nature. My senses were trained to find the beauty around me and painting is my attempt to translate my impression of this beauty onto canvas. I often include architectural elements and figures in my landscapes as a way of emphasizing the enduring and powerful connection between nature and humanity.
I moved to New Hope in Bucks County in 2017 and am captivated by the beautiful farmland and alluring river scenes that surround me. My work is evolving and is a reflection of my interests, my travels, and my life experiences. My goal is to consistently produce original art that expresses my vision of beauty as well as my love of, and respect for, nature. My hope is that my paintings bring a bit of restorative calm directly to the viewer and connect them with nature, nurturing a sense of place, peace, and familiarity.
If you are interested in learning more about my work, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at jgs.studio@icloud.com.
Thanks for visiting!
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2026 – MFA Gallery Juried Group Show “On the Run: Human Race vs. Nature” Frenchtown, NJ
2026 – Phillips Mill “Members Art Show” New Hope, PA
2026 – MFA Gallery Plein Air Frenchtown “Fall in February” Frenchtown, NJ
2025 – Whitehorse Gallery – Solo Show, Newtown Square, PA
2025 – Wayne Art Center Fall Members Juried Exhibition, Wayne, PA
2025 – Phillips Mill Community Association “96th Juried Art Show” New Hope, PA
2025 – New Hope Arts “New Hope Then and Now” New Hope, PA
2025 – AOY Art Center “Member Show” Yardley, PA
2025 – Hicks Art Center “Colors of Fall” Newtown, PA
2025 – Oil Painters of America Summer Showcase, Online
2025 – MFA Gallery Juried Summer Showcase “Create That Tune” Frenchtown, NJ
2025 – 5th Annual AIS Associate Member Exhibition, Online
2025 – Deep Run Presbyterian Church “Deep Run—Through the Eyes of an Artist” Perkasie, PA
2025 – AOY Art Center “Paint Our River Towns Plein Air Exhibition” Yardley, PA
2025 – MFA Gallery Juried Spring Showcase “The Road Less Traveled” Frenchtown, NJ
2025 – Art & Cultural Council of Bucks County “Spring Exhibition” Doylestown, PA
2025 – Speer Gallery “Shipley School Alumni Show” Bryn Mawr, PA
2025 – AOY Art Center “13th Annual Juried Show” Yardley, PA
2025 – Historic Yellow Springs “52nd Juried Yellow Springs Art Show” Chester Springs, PA
2025 – New Hope Arts “Members Exhibition” New Hope, PA
2024 – Hicks Art Center “Winter Impressions” Newtown, PA
2024 – Hicks Art Center “Bucks County Wine & Art Trail Exhibition” Newtown, PA
2024 – Angelico Winery “Artsbridge Exhibition” Lambertville, NJ
2024 – Phillips Mill Community Association “95th Juried Art Show” New Hope, PA
2024 – AOY Art Center “Member Show” Yardley, PA
2024 – Art & Cultural Council of Bucks County “Small Works Show” Doylestown, PA
2024 – Hicks Art Center Gallery “Endless Summer” Newtown, PA
2024 – Art & Cultural Council of Bucks County “Member Show” Doylestown, PA
2024 – AOY Art Center “Paint Our Towns Plein Air Exhibition” Yardley, PA
2024 – AOY Art Center “12th Annual Juried Show”Yardley, PA
2024 – New Hope Arts “Art Across the River – Spring Salon” New Hope, PA
2024 – Phillips Mill Community Association “Members Art Show” New Hope, PA
Awards:
1st Place for “Little Nishaskawick Creek” 2025 – AOY Art Center “Paint Our River Towns Plein Air Exhibition” Yardley, PA
Honorable Mention for “Winter Wool” 2025 – Art & Cultural Council of Bucks County “Spring Exhibition” Doylestown, PA
Honorable Mention for “Intersecting Paths” 2024 – Art & Cultural Council of Bucks County “Member Show” Doylestown, PA
Affiliations & Memberships:
American Impressionist Society – Associate Member (joined 2025)
AOY Art Center (joined 2024)
The Arts & Cultural Council of Bucks County (joined 2024)
Artsbridge (no longer in existence – joined 2024)
Chester County Art Association (joined 2019)
Mid Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association (joined 2025)
New Hope Arts (joined 2024)
Oil Painters of America (joined 2025)
Phillips’ Mill Community Association (joined 2024)
Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill (joined 2019)
Wayne Art Center (joined 2013)