NEW LONDON, CT.- In Lyman Allyn Art Museum’s newest exhibition, artist Jac Lahav works with immersive vining sculptures and abstract painting that intertwine the themes of fostering and the nurturing power of plants. Through vibrant blue installations that envelop and beguile, Lahav encourages viewers to explore the complex layers of human connection and growth.

Lahav’s foster series consists of over 40 abstract paintings on velvet. Reminiscent of gems, each painting represents a phone call the artist has received about a child in need during their last two years as a licensed foster parent.

Capturing the raw essence of their experience as a foster parent, each canvas serves as a poignant testimony, delving into the conceptual intricacies of familial bonds and the profound impact of nurturing love.

Complementing these captivating artworks is an expansive branching installation taking root throughout the Hazlewood gallery, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the transformative power of nature’s embrace.

Lahav’s artistic vision intertwines multiple realms, shedding light on the interconnectedness of human relationships, the surface quality of painting, and the resilience found in the natural world.

Jac Lahav

(he/they) is a multi-disciplinary artist, curator, parent, children’s book author, and community organizer. Born in Jerusalem Israel Lahav was raised in the United States and resides in Lyme CT.

Lahav’s work investigates community, belonging, and cultural history. With solo shows at Richmond Art Museum Indiana, Longview MFA Texas, Saginaw Art Museum Michigan, Florence Griswold Museum Connecticut, Lahav’s work can be found in multiple public collections including the Jewish Museum Milwaukee, Mount Holyoke Art Museum, Jewish Museum NY among others.

For the past eight years, Lahav’s social practice and curatorial projects have been written about in Hyperallergic, New York Times, Gothamist, Artnet, among others. During the pandemic, Lahav expanded their social practice, becoming an advocate for foster parents and helping start the group Public Art For Racial Justice Education (PARJE).

Through their community work, Lahav has helped facilitate large-scale mural projects, host educational artist talks, and run children’s art projects to educate about under-represented narratives and equity in America.

Lyman Allyn Art Museum
August 26th, 2023 - December 3rd, 2023