Janet Maher

I have been an artist since childhood but earned my living through other professions, notably as a teacher. I taught many types and levels of art over about thirty years in total, beginning in Connecticut and New Mexico. Now living in Westerly, Rhode Island, I retired as Professor Emeritus of Art from Loyola University Maryland. There I taught more than fifteen different courses, mentored several Independent Studies and directed the Studio Arts program for many years.

Although I use paint, my highly-focused undergraduate foundations in drawing and printmaking expanded through the decades to include and mix almost every type of medium except traditional painting, such as: collage, assemblage and found object sculpture, book arts, darkroom photography, digital imaging and works in clay. These days, my artwork is typically some form of mixed or multiple media work on or of paper, with collage and drawing involved.   

My works are in many public and private collections, I have won several awards, and two Percent for Art projects in clay that I produced still exist in New Mexico. As a juried member of Artists' Cooperative Gallery of Westerly, I am also the group's webmaster. I am a Charter Member of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (ca.1982), Signature Member of the National Collage Society (since 2018), Juried Member of Wickford Art Association(2023), and show in  regional galleries.

In addition to my work as an artist, I have also done a great deal of scholarly research and writing over the years, most recently:

Waterbury Irish: From the Emerald Isle to the Brass City, The History Press (published 2015)

From the Old Sod to the Naugatuck Valley, Apprentice House (published 2012)

Maher Matters (Irish-related blog, begun in 2011)

Outside the Margins (exhibition catalogue for two Loyola University Fine Arts Gallery book arts exhibitions, several essays, 2016; catalogue designed by gallery director Kim Banister)