Monica Jacobson's work combines both traditional and experimental photography, revealing her deep curiosity and passion for storytelling. 

Art is a reflection of the world around us, a cultural mirror, it can make us ponder, bring us healing, and at times joy. Through my work, I hope to evoke emotion and connection in those who experience it.

 I invite viewers to experience the world through light, shadow, and memory. Guided by the natural world, my artistic approach begins with the beauty and the spiritual. I have a fondness for the ephemeral, gritty textures, and the way nature finds order in chaos. I regard Alfred Stieglitz and the early 20th century pictorialists emphasizing artistic expression with atmosphere, often romanticizing the subject, but also considering post capture elements that stressed the artist's hand. Bringing this sensibility into the 21st century I often apply post capture manipulation to soften, or to sharpen, or in many cases propose a narrative. Considering and emphasizing those sensibilities in my presentation. I use archival inks on 100% cotton rag paper, either Epson or Hahnemuhle, which weights the texture while giving the images an aged or nostalgic feel. 

Photography, for me, is a way of connecting with the world and with others, a search for calm and beauty. Informed by storytelling, my work gives a voice to Nature and places lost to memory. Photography acts as a bridge to the world, becoming a profound means of connecting with both our surroundings and the people in them. Capturing a photograph is a search for sanctuary—a moment of calm and beauty amidst the chaos of everyday life. This pursuit is not simply aesthetic; it is deeply rooted in sentiment, and narrative, where each image speaks volumes beyond what the eye initially perceives.

Sometimes the capture is spontaneous, sometimes studied over weeks or days to find the right sense of time and place. I use both a straight photography style and post capture manipulation. The goal is to encapsulate moments of meaning that speak to something greater than ourselves.

My  artistic practice is deeply intertwined with my commitment to art education. With a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MSEd from Dominican University, I have dedicated over 25 years to teaching and fostering creativity in others, all while continuing to develop my personal artistic practice and promote community engagement in the arts.

Monica Jacobson’s work has toured nationally and been featured in galleries across the country. She has been published in numerous publications, including a University of Ohio Museum catalogue, the Chicago Tribune, Inside Chicago Magazine, Sonoma Medical Association Magazine, the Press Democrat, and the Sonoma Index. Additionally, her work is included in private collections throughout the US and Europe.

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