Claudia Cohen

I can't remember a time when I wasn't immersed in the world of creation. Growing up in Washington DC, surrounded by the artistic influence of my painter mother and architect father, instilled in me a deep appreciation for art. My educational journey at the Corcoran School of Art, George Washington University, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, where I earned my BFA, laid the foundation for my artistic pursuits.

While my focus was initially on sculpture, my passion has evolved into figurative and narrative painting, guided by studies with the esteemed teacher Chester Arnold at the College of Marin.

My creations are intricate and reflective of my life experiences and influences. They are rooted in Renaissance portraiture, aiming to take viewers on a narrative voyage filled with imaginative reflections and fantasies. While not strictly realistic, my paintings and sculptures are precise manifestations of my imagination, serving as articulate expressions of my subconscious contemplations. With meticulous attention to detail and a keen sense of form, my work breathes life into a whimsical cast of characters — both human and animal, transporting viewers to an enchanting universe of my creation.

Bringing my dreams and fantasies into tangible forms, and uncovering the three-dimensional manifestations of my subconscious musings, is the essence of my creative pursuit. Sculpting a world of beings allows me to convey the myths and stories that stem from my inner visions, using paint, clay, and bronze as the mediums to share them with others.

My work has been showcased in museums and galleries across the US and internationally, and I have been honored with numerous grants and awards, including the George Sugarman Foundation and several Marin Arts Council Grants. Notably, my painting "Nevermore" was featured in the 2024 DeYoung Museum Open. In his book "Humor in Art," Nickolas Roukes aptly characterized my work as Comic Surrealism, capturing the essence of humor and pathos present in my art. Another term frequently used to describe my narrative creations is Magic Realism. My ultimate goal is to craft a captivating, cohesive private world and extend an invitation to everyone to step into it.

Claudia Cohen has been creating since her earliest years. After studies at the Corcoran School of Art and George Washington University in Washington, DC, she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Sculpture was her primary medium for many years. Her work has since expanded to encompass figurative and narrative painting, informed by studies with celebrated teacher Chester Arnold at the College of Marin.

Her work has been exhibited in museums and galleries across the United States and internationally, and has been described as Comic Surrealism and Magic Realism — terms that aptly capture her feel for humor, pathos, and the fantastical.