Jane Dickson came to prominence in the New York art world as a part of the late 70s and 80s alternative and punk art scene downtown. She was part of the canonical artist cooperative Colab (aka Collaborative Projects, Inc.), the radical artists collective known for its experimental art exhibitions that pushed the limits of artistic categories and launched graffiti and street art. Dickson began to photograph through the window of her apartment the daily street hustle of Times Square from above, capturing the neon and vivid colors of strip clubs, peep shows, 24/7 cinemas, sex shops, and liquor stores.
For many years Dickson has been painting on unconventional supports, using man-made materials that are culturally devalued, chosen by the artist for their sensual embrace and the resonance of a specific material with a specific subject. She frequently works with Astroturf, sandpaper, vinyl, or carpet to exploit the implicit references and the textural possibilities these materials offer.
Dickson received her BFA at Harvard University and previously earned a Studio Diploma at the School of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. She is a recipient of the Joan Mitchell Award, and in 2008 she was commissioned by MTA to produce a permanent artwork for Times Square Station.
