There’s something electric about the world Jane Gottlieb sees—a world where colors aren’t shy, where pinks scream with delight, blues hum softly in harmony, and yellows shine unapologetically. Jane doesn’t just work with color—she lives in it, listens to it, and uses it to lift us into a more radiant version of reality.
If the role of art is to help us better understand ourselves and the environment we live in, Jane Gottlieb’s work answers that call—with a wink, a whirl, and a whole lot of vibrant magic.
The Joy of Color, the Freedom of Imagination
“I have been expressing my joy of art with paint, shapes, and colors since I was very young,” Jane says. And it shows. Her art feels unfiltered, childlike in spirit but masterful in form—a joyful outburst by someone who has never stopped feeling wonder at the world around her.
She started as a painter, transitioned into photography, and then—because staying in one medium was never her thing—she began hand-painting her Cibachrome photographic prints over 30 years ago. The result? A stunning marriage between paint and photo, instinct and composition. Today, she scans these original pieces, enhances them with Photoshop, and prints them on aluminum, canvas, or paper—transforming each one into something deeply archival, deeply joyful, and deeply hers.
“Color is luscious to me,” she says. “It’s a luxury to be able to fill my life with color… it evokes emotion… it makes you feel happy.” And that’s exactly what her work does.
Who Is Jane Gottlieb?
Born in 1946 in Los Angeles, Jane’s life has always swirled in creativity. Her academic journey took her through the vibrant corridors of UC Berkeley, Syracuse University (in Florence, Italy), and UCLA, where she graduated with a BA in Painting and Art History. She later moved to New York to study graphic design at the School of Visual Arts.
But the turning point in her journey wasn’t academic—it was intuitive. She followed her gut, merging photography with hand-painting, long before it was a thing. Long before Photoshop was in everyone’s pocket. She was innovating not to chase trends, but to express truth.
Cibachrome & Color: A Match Made in Magic
Jane’s primary medium might sound technical—Cibachrome. But in her hands, it’s pure poetry.
Cibachrome (also known as Ilfochrome) is a photographic printing process known for its rich color and unmatched permanence. But Jane didn’t stop at the process—she used it as her canvas. With a brush in hand and a head full of color stories, she began painting over her photographic prints, fusing two worlds into one: the real and the reimagined.
Later, with the rise of digital tools, Jane adapted again. She began scanning her hand-painted prints, digitally enhancing them, and reproducing them on modern archival surfaces. Her work now lives in many forms—but the heart remains the same: bold, jubilant color.
She Colored the Walls of UCLA—and Then Some
You don’t just stumble into Jane Gottlieb’s art. You walk into it.
Over 100 of her large-scale works are installed across four buildings at UCLA. Another 40 grace the spaces at UCSB. These aren’t just temporary gallery installations—they’re ten-year exhibitions. Her art lives where people live, study, work, think. And that’s important, because her work isn’t meant to be kept behind glass—it’s meant to be experienced daily.
From the Butler Institute of American Art to the Petersen Automotive Museum, from Laguna to Santa Barbara, her exhibitions have brightened spaces and hearts alike. Her work lives in private collections and public ones, in places like the Orange County Museum of Art, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and the Brookings Institute.
There’s a tendency, when confronted with bright, bold work, to call it “pretty.” But Jane’s work isn’t about razzle-dazzle. It’s not just surface.
As Dr. Louis Zona, director of the Butler Institute of American Art, so perfectly put it:
“These are classically beautiful works in theme and composition, but move well beyond tradition in interpretation and critical placement of exuberant color… Jane Gottlieb’s works are about color’s understanding of natural form.”
That’s the quiet brilliance of her work. It’s not just “happy.” It’s alive. It makes you feel something deeper—not only joy, but clarity, freedom, even nostalgia for a world that might only exist in dreams.
Why the World Needs Jane’s Vision
In a world of muted tones and scrolling screens, Jane Gottlieb’s work is an interruption—a good one. It jolts us out of grayscale thinking. It reminds us that color isn’t just visual; it’s emotional, psychological, spiritual.
She turns cars into candy-colored sculptures, cities into technicolor utopias, and gardens into imagined Edens. Her lens might start with reality, but her imagination never stops at what’s already there.
As one critic wrote:
“She jazzes up the world and takes color as a synonym for energy, joy, happiness…”
Her art is permission—to see big, to feel bright, and to live more fully.
For the Art Lovers, the Dreamers, the Curious Souls
If you’re someone who feels deeply. If you’ve ever looked at a sunset and wished you could hold onto that moment a little longer. If you’ve walked into a room and felt the difference a painting can make in how you feel—then Jane’s work is for you.
Whether you’re a collector, a curator, or simply a seeker of joy, her work invites you in. No password needed. Just open eyes and an open heart.
Where to Discover Jane Gottlieb’s Work
💻 Visit Jane’s official portfolio – Dive into decades of color, creativity, and visual storytelling.
🖼️ Explore her archival prints – Available on aluminum, canvas, or paper.
🏛️ See her work in person – At UCLA, UCSB, or institutions across California.
📩 Get in touch – Commission a custom piece or inquire about licensing for your project.
Jane Isn’t Just an Artist. She’s a Reminder.
A reminder that art can be bold and still be thoughtful. That color can comfort. That imagination can be discipline. And that joy—when crafted with care—can be just as powerful as sorrow.
Jane Gottlieb didn’t just fill her world with color. She filled ours too.
