Jeni Follman: Between Light and Memory

The Only Way Is Through By Jeni Follman

Geary Gallery presents Jeni Follman’s “Between Light and Memory.”

This January, the Geary Gallery of Darien proudly presents its January exhibition, “Between Light and Memory” featuring the dreamlike abstracts of upstate New York artist, Jeni Follman. Her paintings blend realism and abstraction into soft, ethereal atmospheres  that evoke memory, emotion, and the quiet spaces between moments.

The exhibition runs January 7-31 at the Geary Gallery, located at 576 Post Road in Darien. All are welcome, and admission is free.

About Jeni Follman

Jeni Follman was born in Mill Valley, California across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. She later moved  to Santa Monica, CA and attended SMASH, an alternative school near Venice Beach. At the age of eight, Follman moved to a small town outside Munich, Germany.

While attending Munich International School, Follman was taught in both German and English as her main languages. Growing up in Germany gave her unique access to master works from the classical world to modern art.

Follman returned to the United States to attend college, earning dual BAs in Liberal Studies and Studio Art from Sonoma State University. She later worked with the Peace Corps in Bukhara, Uzbekistan where she became familiar with the art and culture of ancient institutions like the Silk and Spice Road. After the Peace Corps Follman returned to the States and now lives in Upstate New York and has been painting since 2021.

Artist’s Statement:

“The curves and contours of the earth, sky, and human world in general are insatiably seductive to me. It is as if every layer of the visual world drives me to pick up a paintbrush, a stark white, smooth, blank canvas or board and begin to develop a new painting. Since I was five years old I have wanted to do two things in life — be a mother and be an artist. Now, when I go into my studio to paint, I experience a sense of letting go, of being able to love my work. I start with a naked surface and absolutely no idea of what I’m about to work on. I choose my first color and begin. I experiment with shape and form letting the painting evolve.

During the development of a painting, landscapes, vases with flowers, portraits of people all find their way onto my painting surface. It’s like beginning with no clothes on and painting until I’m fully dressed.”

To view Follman’s paintings and to read more, visit our online gallery.

Gallery Location & Hours

Geary Gallery is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and is located at 576 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820. For more information, call (203) 655-6633.