Judith Schaechter works exclusively in stained glass, updating a medieval form with contemporary imagery. Although stained glass is a predominantly religious and abstract art form, her work is secular and mostly figurative. She borrows freely from art historical sources such as 19th- century fairy-tale illustrations, Pre-Raphaelite paintings, and Surrealism, as well as popular culture sources such as comics, circus posters, and folklore. Her themes are mostly dark—dealing with death, decay, and violence—evincing a Gothic sensibility. Her work is included in major craft museum collections and also appeared in the 2002 Whitney Biennial.
Joan of Arc, 2007, stained glass, 35″ x 31″; photo courtesy Dominic Episcopo