Jennifer Baron

Year of birth: 1971.
Where do you live: Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Your education: Fotoacademie Amsterdam Conceptual Art.
Describe your art in three words: Intimate, Raw, Reflectiv.
Your discipline: Photography, Visual Arts, Bookmaking, Storytelling.
Website | Instagram

Your works often explore deep themes of grief, trauma, and healing. How do you navigate such personal emotions when translating them into visual art?

My work is a direct translation of my emotions and experiences. I work intuitively, letting images emerge from memories, feelings and the unspoken. By using abstraction and symbolism, I create space for both my own story and that of the viewer. The process is sometimes confronting, but also healing. It gives form to what would otherwise remain invisible.

In your project Unveiled Layers, you mention the process of uncovering the hidden aspects of ourselves. How do you decide which layers to reveal in your work?

Sometimes it unfolds gradually and sometimes I consciously guide it. I let myself be led by what needs to be felt at that moment. Unveiled Layers is an ongoing dialogue between my inner world and the outside world, where each layer I reveal is a step in self-discovery and connection.

Jennifer Baron | Shadows of thruth | 2024

Your photographs combine both abstract and intimate elements. How do you balance these contrasting approaches within a single image?

For me, the strength lies in the interplay between recognition and alienation. By isolating details and emphasizing structures or shadows, I create images that feel both personal and universal. Intimacy lies in small, subtle gestures: a shadow on a wall, a faded outline of a body, while abstraction allows space for interpretation and emotional depth.

How has your background in education influenced your approach to art, particularly in terms of conveying complex emotions and narratives?

My years in education, where I worked with young people between the ages of 11 and 18, taught me how important it is to connect and create space for personal growth. Watching young people develop, learn to understand their emotions and grow in their perspective of the world, gave me insights that I carry into my work. My works provides an invitation: it offers something for reflection, but leaves room for the viewer to find their own meaning.

Jennifer Baron | Strained Serenity | 2024

Your use of black-and-white photography seems to highlight raw emotion. Can you discuss how the absence of color enhances the emotional depth in your pieces?

Black-and-white removes distractions and brings the essence of an emotion to the forefront. Without color, only form, light and contrast remain, elements that intensify the mood and depth of the image. It invites the viewer to add their own colors and memories, creating a deeper, personal connection with the work.

The tension between the tangible and intangible plays a significant role in your work. Could you describe a specific piece where this tension is most apparent?

In Unveiled Layers, the tension between the tangible and intangible plays a major role in Whispers of Authenticity. A face emerges from light and shadow, the contours are only fragmentarily visible and the subtle blurring makes the facial features elusive. This creates a sense of layering and vulnerability. A visual metaphor for the hidden and revealed aspects of ourselves, where presence and absence flow into each other.

Jennifer Baron | Invisible threads | 2024

Your art seems to foster a sense of introspection. What advice would you give to someone looking to embark on their own journey of self-discovery through art?

Be honest with yourself and dare to be vulnerable in your work. Self-discovery through art is not about perfect images but about authenticity. Follow your intuition, let the process lead the way, and don’t be afraid to step into the unknown. Art is a journey, not a destination.