"I hope that my work will inspire people to recognize and enjoy the hidden treasures all around us and to pause, when they can, to examine and appreciate life's mysteries and gifts."

Jane (Mayhook) Friedman is a Northwest artist who finds inspiration and creativity on the shores of Puget Sound. Influenced by her childhood in the Midwest and 15 years in Alaska as a young adult, Jane now calls Bremerton, Washington home.

Jane completed her BFA at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Her BFA exhibition titled 'From Innocence to Experience,' was selected for the 'Recognizing Excellence' award and marked her artistic debut. During her time in Alaska, she was frequently in solo and group shows, including at the Stonington Gallery and the International Gallery of Contemporary Art. Jane also exhibited her work in solo exhibitions at the Alaska State Museum in Juneau, and the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, where her work is now part of their permanent collection.

Jane was featured in 'Icebreakers: Alaska's Most Innovative Artists' by Julie Decker, a compilation of selected contemporary visual artists in Alaska. Jan Ingram, a writer at the Anchorage Daily News, also observed that Jane's exhibit, "Illusions, Disillusions, and Re-illusions," was well received and made her an overnight sensation within artistic circles. Ingram recognized her as "one of the freshest and most daring artists to emerge at that time."

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While in Alaska, Jane served as an art instructor at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. After moving down to Washington, she was co-owner of Friedman Oens Gallery on Bainbridge Island from 2014-2020. During this time, she volunteered with the Collective Visions Gallery (CVG), which hosts a statewide-juried art competition in Bremerton. Her works were selected for the CVG show between 2016 and 2024, and she earned the Purchase Prize Award in 2016 for her painting titled "Imagine." She also won the People's Choice Award in two exhibitions, first in 2012 for her work "Buffalo" in a juried art show at Antioch University in Seattle and more recently for "Sirens" at the 2023 CVG annual art show.

Jane finds inspiration in nature, humans, and human nature, while predominantly using encaustic and oils in her work and often incorporating three-dimensional elements. The contrast between mixed mediums gives her artwork substance and complexity, allowing the viewer to see repurposed or natural objects from a new perspective.

  • “Allegories” (Featured artist), Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, WA (October 2022)
  • “Image & Abstraction” (Two-person exhibition with Alan Newberg), Northwind Art Gallery, Port Townsend, WA. (April 2021)
  • Collective Visions Juried Art Show (Group Show), Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, WA. Selected for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023, & 2024 shows.
  • “Subastral” (Two-person exhibition with Jeff Oens), Aubin Ahrens Photography Studio, Bremerton, WA. (October 2014)
  • Juried Art Show (Group Show), Antioch University, Seattle, WA. (2012)
  • “Invitational 1998” (Group Show), Stonington Gallery, Anchorage, AK. (May 1998)
  • “Shadow Boxing” (Solo Show), Alaska State Museum, Juneau, AK. (October 1996)
  • “Invitational 1995” (Group Show), Stonington Gallery, Anchorage, AK. (October 1995)
  • “Jane Mayhook” (Group Show), Stonington Gallery, Anchorage, AK. (July 1995)
  • “Can Baseball be Art?” (Group Show), Stonington Gallery, Anchorage, AK. (May 1995)
  • “Jane Mayhook”(Solo Show), Carr-Gottstein Academic Center Gallery, Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, AK. (April 1995)
  • “Fool for Love” (Solo Show), Toast Theater Loft, Anchorage, AK. (September 1994)
  • “Invitational 1994” (Group Show), Stonington Gallery, Anchorage, AK. (September 1994)
  • “UAA Alumni” (Group Show), UAA Wendy Williamson Auditorium, Anchorage, AK. (August 1994)
  • “New Works by Jane Mayhook” (Solo Show), Stonington Gallery, Anchorage, AK. (November 1993)
  • “25th Anniversary Exhibition 1968-1993” (Group Show), Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Anchorage, AK. (June 1993)
  • “Part of the Equation” (Solo Show), Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Anchorage, AK. (November 1992)
  • “Of Restless Nights” (Solo Show), Visual Arts Center of Alaska, Anchorage, AK. (July 1991)
  • “Intimations” (Solo Show), Stonington Gallery, Anchorage, AK. (March 1991)
  • “From Innocence to Experience” (BFA Show), UAA Art Gallery, Anchorage, AK. (March 1990)
  • BFA Group Show, UAA Art Gallery, Anchorage, AK. (April 1990)

  • University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK, BFA (1990), Art (emphasis: mixed media, drawing, painting)
  • The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 1977-1978, Major: Art (emphasis: ceramics)
  • Stephens College, Columbia, MO, 1974-1976, Major: Science

  • Best in Show (2024), Collective Visions Gallery Annual Juried Art Show, Bremerton, WA. Painting: “Cognitive Dissonance”
  • People’s Choice Award (2023), Collective Visions Gallery Annual Juried Art Show, Bremerton, WA. Painting: “Sirens”
  • Purchase Prize Award (2016), Collective Visions Gallery Annual Juried Art Show, Bremerton, WA. Painting: “Imagine”
  • People’s Choice Award (2012), Antioch University Juried Art Show, Seattle, WA. Painting: “Buffalo”
  • Best in Show (1990), University of Anchorage Alaska Student Juried Show, Anchorage, AK.
  • Best Two-Dimensional (1987), University of Anchorage Alaska Student Juried Show, Anchorage, AK.

  • Front Cover Feature in Art Access Magazine, (January 2024). Retrieved from Artaccess.com
  • Featured Artist in Icebreakers: Alaska’s Most Innovative Artists, by Julie Decker (1999)
  • Critics’ Choice by Jan Ingram, Anchorage Daily News (1990)
  • Panelist, “Shattering the Silence,” Anchorage Daily News (July 17, 1990)

  • Member Artist, Collective Visions Gallery (2021- present)
  • Committee Member, Collective Visions Gallery (2017-2018)
  • Art Docent, Brownsville Elementary (2006-2008)
  • Art Juror, Rabbit Creek Elementary School student art show (1991 and 1992)
  • Art Juror, University of Alaska, Anchorage, BFA Student Art Show (1992)
  • Painting Instructor, Anchorage Museum of History and Art (1992-1996)
  • Creative consultant, Tanaina Child Development Center, student art show (August 1993)
  • Art Instructor, Special Arts Rainbow Factory (April 1994 and April 1995)