Biography
Jordan Robbins is a New Jersey based contemporary artist whose work explores the intersections of mental health, femininity, and vulnerability. Jordan is about to obtain a BFA from Rutgers University where she concentrated in Studio Arts. Her work has been exhibited in the Student Works Gallery and the Stedman Gallery at Rutgers University–Camden, and the Dr. Ross Beitzel Gallery. She also is currently a gallery assistant and collections intern at the Stedman Gallery at Rutgers University–Camden. Her own personal experiences heavily influence the tones of mental health and sensual vulnerability in her work. Jordan is currently working on furthering her professional portfolio and applying to graduate school for a Masters in Fine Art.
Artist Statement
My work is a deeply personal reflection of my experiences as a woman navigating mental health; specifically the complexities of anxiety and sensual vulnerability. Art is my way of expressing what I struggle to say out loud. It is a space where I can explore the tension between wanting to be seen and wanting to hide. Through painting, I’m able to give form to things that aren’t always spoken. My work is meant to make you feel something, and sometimes that means feeling slightly uncomfortable. This discomfort is intentional; it’s where the real conversations can begin. I want the viewer to confront what they’d rather look away from. In doing so, I am challenging the power dynamics embedded in how we view women, vulnerability, and emotional exposure.
There is a duality in everything I feel. Anxiety can be both halting and transformative. Vulnerability can be both terrifying and freeing. As a woman, I am stuck between strength and fragility, between self-expression and the pressure to be small, and between what’s expected of me and who I really am. Through my work, I explore these contradictions.
Sensuality plays a big role in my art, but not in a way that’s about being provocative or performative. It’s about being open, raw, and honest about the human body’s emotional weight. I work primarily in oil painting on canvas but my process always begins with photography. I frequently paint the exact photograph to capture the original image with utmost precision. It honors the vulnerability of the moment, preserving as it was, without any distortion or embellishment. I paint bodies that are not just over exposed physically, but emotionally. It offers a space where vulnerability is embraced. Where healing can begin and connections can happen.
Above all, I refuse to hold back.