“I use a lot of stories in my art to try to psychologically understand myself and my relationships with other people, which can get rather messy sometimes.” A she-wolf, a murder mystery, a hermaphrodite and more: Portland artist Jen Brown paints people—allegories, portraits and ancient myths—using a glazing technique inspired by the old masters (the likes of Titian and Caravaggio).

In this interview, we talk about her influences, her daily practice, the power of art—and a controversy involving Instagram and too many DMs.

Her solo show, Love, Sex and War, opens March 3, 2022, at Figure Ground Gallery, Seattle.

Find her work here: https://www.brownjen.com