The horror’s and atrocities that can be committed by fellow humans is baffling. At a time of tremendous loss and suffering, my mother reminded me “it takes immense bravery to consider bringing life into this world.” I answered that I had to believe that young people have always been at the center of movement and change — and that alone is very much worth the investment in young life. Here’s the thing, when I was newly diagnosed with Lupus at 18 I was told I could never and should never have kids. My body would undoubted betray me and I should wipe the thought from my brain. So I did. For 15 years I did. I now know a broad statement of that nature is incorrect — it’s incredibly nuanced — as most things in life are. Meeting my partner opened me up to consider the whole spectrum of options more freely — placing us on a path towards surrogacy. That was almost 3 years ago — and despite every attempt to trust the systems in place and move through the process, we have been met with fits and starts that at times has broken my heart in ways I never thought possible. This is not to say I am without hope, I know we will find ourselves exactly where we are meant to be when the time is right. But boy, figuring this out on our own has been one of the hardest parts. There is so much I wish I had known. So much I wish I had asked. Being vulnerable on this platform is not something I lean into — it can feel so far from real human connection. But I do think I’d like to share more about this journey here — in hopes that connections can be made and wisdom shared.
In 1990 my grandmother Margaret Buckner Young finished her 14 years of service as the first woman of color on the Board of the @metmuseum to be present with her daughter (Mama C) and grandchildren in Denver, Colorado. I always felt incredibly close to her and that has been true even now. It was September 14, 1967 that she was elected onto the Board of Trustees. Yesterday, December 11, 2023 I stepped directly in her footsteps, and was elected onto the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Board of Trustees. No one could have ever told this young free spirit that she would one day, follow the families linage back to New York. A place where, like Grams she’d dedicate her life to being in service to art and people. I look forward to being of service by listening, learning and thoughtfully engaging.
These incredibly intimate and personal paintings made this summer in my Upstate NY garden are now on view in @caseykaplangallery ‘s physical and online viewing rooms. THROUGH DECEMBER 22, 2023 “Jordan Casteel presents a series of seven intimately scaled oil paintings, composed en plein air. Zinnias, nasturtiums and dahlias are rendered true-to-scale and at peak bloom. The floral bounties of Casteel’s own cultivated landscape mark the establishment of new routines and relationships within the community of her rural surroundings in Upstate New York. Composed in situ and immersed in the lush gardens of her home, Casteel positions herself on the ground and props the canvas in her lap. With a narrow field of vision, vegetal microcosms of the vast surrounding landscape are isolated. Casteel translates observations with confident and swift brushstrokes in real time rather than documenting on-the-go impressions amid the hustle of daily life in Harlem, NY, to be mapped and painted later. Petals and stems are built up through thick swathes of paint, memorialized in a flick of the wrist. The tightly cropped compositions call to mind the artist’s ‘subway’ series, an ongoing body of work from 2015 that captures the candid exchange between commuters on the NYC subway. Relatable connections are registered with the informality of a gesture, from overlapping legs to clasped hands. The intrinsic bond between parent and child, projected with an outstretched arm in Within Reach(2019), is paralleled and personified in Garden (Dahlia) (2023). Drooping buds traverse each other, resting their weight on their counterpart to form a living trellis.” To view them in the gallery, tell the front desk you’d like to see Jordan Casteel’s Recent Landscapes in the viewing rooms — only after you look at the beautiful @carolinekent1 show. 💞
These incredibly intimate and personal paintings made this summer in my Upstate NY garden are now on view in @caseykaplangallery ‘s physical and online viewing rooms. THROUGH DECEMBER 22, 2023 “Jordan Casteel presents a series of seven intimately scaled oil paintings, composed en plein air. Zinnias, nasturtiums and dahlias are rendered true-to-scale and at peak bloom. The floral bounties of Casteel’s own cultivated landscape mark the establishment of new routines and relationships within the community of her rural surroundings in Upstate New York. Composed in situ and immersed in the lush gardens of her home, Casteel positions herself on the ground and props the canvas in her lap. With a narrow field of vision, vegetal microcosms of the vast surrounding landscape are isolated. Casteel translates observations with confident and swift brushstrokes in real time rather than documenting on-the-go impressions amid the hustle of daily life in Harlem, NY, to be mapped and painted later. Petals and stems are built up through thick swathes of paint, memorialized in a flick of the wrist. The tightly cropped compositions call to mind the artist’s ‘subway’ series, an ongoing body of work from 2015 that captures the candid exchange between commuters on the NYC subway. Relatable connections are registered with the informality of a gesture, from overlapping legs to clasped hands. The intrinsic bond between parent and child, projected with an outstretched arm in Within Reach(2019), is paralleled and personified in Garden (Dahlia) (2023). Drooping buds traverse each other, resting their weight on their counterpart to form a living trellis.” To view them in the gallery, tell the front desk you’d like to see Jordan Casteel’s Recent Landscapes in the viewing rooms — only after you look at the beautiful @carolinekent1 show. 💞
These incredibly intimate and personal paintings made this summer in my Upstate NY garden are now on view in @caseykaplangallery ‘s physical and online viewing rooms. THROUGH DECEMBER 22, 2023 “Jordan Casteel presents a series of seven intimately scaled oil paintings, composed en plein air. Zinnias, nasturtiums and dahlias are rendered true-to-scale and at peak bloom. The floral bounties of Casteel’s own cultivated landscape mark the establishment of new routines and relationships within the community of her rural surroundings in Upstate New York. Composed in situ and immersed in the lush gardens of her home, Casteel positions herself on the ground and props the canvas in her lap. With a narrow field of vision, vegetal microcosms of the vast surrounding landscape are isolated. Casteel translates observations with confident and swift brushstrokes in real time rather than documenting on-the-go impressions amid the hustle of daily life in Harlem, NY, to be mapped and painted later. Petals and stems are built up through thick swathes of paint, memorialized in a flick of the wrist. The tightly cropped compositions call to mind the artist’s ‘subway’ series, an ongoing body of work from 2015 that captures the candid exchange between commuters on the NYC subway. Relatable connections are registered with the informality of a gesture, from overlapping legs to clasped hands. The intrinsic bond between parent and child, projected with an outstretched arm in Within Reach(2019), is paralleled and personified in Garden (Dahlia) (2023). Drooping buds traverse each other, resting their weight on their counterpart to form a living trellis.” To view them in the gallery, tell the front desk you’d like to see Jordan Casteel’s Recent Landscapes in the viewing rooms — only after you look at the beautiful @carolinekent1 show. 💞
These incredibly intimate and personal paintings made this summer in my Upstate NY garden are now on view in @caseykaplangallery ‘s physical and online viewing rooms. THROUGH DECEMBER 22, 2023 “Jordan Casteel presents a series of seven intimately scaled oil paintings, composed en plein air. Zinnias, nasturtiums and dahlias are rendered true-to-scale and at peak bloom. The floral bounties of Casteel’s own cultivated landscape mark the establishment of new routines and relationships within the community of her rural surroundings in Upstate New York. Composed in situ and immersed in the lush gardens of her home, Casteel positions herself on the ground and props the canvas in her lap. With a narrow field of vision, vegetal microcosms of the vast surrounding landscape are isolated. Casteel translates observations with confident and swift brushstrokes in real time rather than documenting on-the-go impressions amid the hustle of daily life in Harlem, NY, to be mapped and painted later. Petals and stems are built up through thick swathes of paint, memorialized in a flick of the wrist. The tightly cropped compositions call to mind the artist’s ‘subway’ series, an ongoing body of work from 2015 that captures the candid exchange between commuters on the NYC subway. Relatable connections are registered with the informality of a gesture, from overlapping legs to clasped hands. The intrinsic bond between parent and child, projected with an outstretched arm in Within Reach(2019), is paralleled and personified in Garden (Dahlia) (2023). Drooping buds traverse each other, resting their weight on their counterpart to form a living trellis.” To view them in the gallery, tell the front desk you’d like to see Jordan Casteel’s Recent Landscapes in the viewing rooms — only after you look at the beautiful @carolinekent1 show. 💞
These incredibly intimate and personal paintings made this summer in my Upstate NY garden are now on view in @caseykaplangallery ‘s physical and online viewing rooms. THROUGH DECEMBER 22, 2023 “Jordan Casteel presents a series of seven intimately scaled oil paintings, composed en plein air. Zinnias, nasturtiums and dahlias are rendered true-to-scale and at peak bloom. The floral bounties of Casteel’s own cultivated landscape mark the establishment of new routines and relationships within the community of her rural surroundings in Upstate New York. Composed in situ and immersed in the lush gardens of her home, Casteel positions herself on the ground and props the canvas in her lap. With a narrow field of vision, vegetal microcosms of the vast surrounding landscape are isolated. Casteel translates observations with confident and swift brushstrokes in real time rather than documenting on-the-go impressions amid the hustle of daily life in Harlem, NY, to be mapped and painted later. Petals and stems are built up through thick swathes of paint, memorialized in a flick of the wrist. The tightly cropped compositions call to mind the artist’s ‘subway’ series, an ongoing body of work from 2015 that captures the candid exchange between commuters on the NYC subway. Relatable connections are registered with the informality of a gesture, from overlapping legs to clasped hands. The intrinsic bond between parent and child, projected with an outstretched arm in Within Reach(2019), is paralleled and personified in Garden (Dahlia) (2023). Drooping buds traverse each other, resting their weight on their counterpart to form a living trellis.” To view them in the gallery, tell the front desk you’d like to see Jordan Casteel’s Recent Landscapes in the viewing rooms — only after you look at the beautiful @carolinekent1 show. 💞
These incredibly intimate and personal paintings made this summer in my Upstate NY garden are now on view in @caseykaplangallery ‘s physical and online viewing rooms. THROUGH DECEMBER 22, 2023 “Jordan Casteel presents a series of seven intimately scaled oil paintings, composed en plein air. Zinnias, nasturtiums and dahlias are rendered true-to-scale and at peak bloom. The floral bounties of Casteel’s own cultivated landscape mark the establishment of new routines and relationships within the community of her rural surroundings in Upstate New York. Composed in situ and immersed in the lush gardens of her home, Casteel positions herself on the ground and props the canvas in her lap. With a narrow field of vision, vegetal microcosms of the vast surrounding landscape are isolated. Casteel translates observations with confident and swift brushstrokes in real time rather than documenting on-the-go impressions amid the hustle of daily life in Harlem, NY, to be mapped and painted later. Petals and stems are built up through thick swathes of paint, memorialized in a flick of the wrist. The tightly cropped compositions call to mind the artist’s ‘subway’ series, an ongoing body of work from 2015 that captures the candid exchange between commuters on the NYC subway. Relatable connections are registered with the informality of a gesture, from overlapping legs to clasped hands. The intrinsic bond between parent and child, projected with an outstretched arm in Within Reach(2019), is paralleled and personified in Garden (Dahlia) (2023). Drooping buds traverse each other, resting their weight on their counterpart to form a living trellis.” To view them in the gallery, tell the front desk you’d like to see Jordan Casteel’s Recent Landscapes in the viewing rooms — only after you look at the beautiful @carolinekent1 show. 💞
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Moments of joy ❤️ >Seeing Malenda and Albert @toptastekingston and presenting them with the print of their painting. Thank y’all for filling my heart and tummy. ❤️
Moments of joy ❤️ >Seeing Malenda and Albert @toptastekingston and presenting them with the print of their painting. Thank y’all for filling my heart and tummy. ❤️
Moments of joy ❤️ >Seeing Malenda and Albert @toptastekingston and presenting them with the print of their painting. Thank y’all for filling my heart and tummy. ❤️
My relationship to prayer, faith, stillness has ebbed and flowed over the years. I often find myself envying those who have found a practice that grounds them into a place of peace. Since moving to Upstate NY, I have built relationships with people whose lives are dedicated to various forms of Buddhism. One of those people I’ve been lucky enough to meet is Chime Lama @chimi.choden — a Tibetan American writer and multi-genre artist. In addition, as I move through my own journey towards motherhood, it was very apt that the day we connected to photograph for this painting, she was 5 months pregnant — probably adding to my decision to highlight her levitation… honoring her as she reflects my own longing and aspirations. For @caseykaplangallery upcoming presentation at Art Basel Miami Beach @artbasel , I’m contributing my latest painting, entitled “Chimé (Eternal Lamp of Dharma)” (2023), a monumental oil portrait of Chime Lama, pictured in the prayer room at Kunzang Palchen Ling (KTD) @barwaydorje_dharma Monastery (founded by her father, the Third Bador Tulku Rinoiche) in Red Hook, NY. Image: “Chimé (Eternal Lamp of Dharma)” 2023 Oil on canvas 80 x 94″ / 203.2 x 238.76cm
My relationship to prayer, faith, stillness has ebbed and flowed over the years. I often find myself envying those who have found a practice that grounds them into a place of peace. Since moving to Upstate NY, I have built relationships with people whose lives are dedicated to various forms of Buddhism. One of those people I’ve been lucky enough to meet is Chime Lama @chimi.choden — a Tibetan American writer and multi-genre artist. In addition, as I move through my own journey towards motherhood, it was very apt that the day we connected to photograph for this painting, she was 5 months pregnant — probably adding to my decision to highlight her levitation… honoring her as she reflects my own longing and aspirations. For @caseykaplangallery upcoming presentation at Art Basel Miami Beach @artbasel , I’m contributing my latest painting, entitled “Chimé (Eternal Lamp of Dharma)” (2023), a monumental oil portrait of Chime Lama, pictured in the prayer room at Kunzang Palchen Ling (KTD) @barwaydorje_dharma Monastery (founded by her father, the Third Bador Tulku Rinoiche) in Red Hook, NY. Image: “Chimé (Eternal Lamp of Dharma)” 2023 Oil on canvas 80 x 94″ / 203.2 x 238.76cm
My relationship to prayer, faith, stillness has ebbed and flowed over the years. I often find myself envying those who have found a practice that grounds them into a place of peace. Since moving to Upstate NY, I have built relationships with people whose lives are dedicated to various forms of Buddhism. One of those people I’ve been lucky enough to meet is Chime Lama @chimi.choden — a Tibetan American writer and multi-genre artist. In addition, as I move through my own journey towards motherhood, it was very apt that the day we connected to photograph for this painting, she was 5 months pregnant — probably adding to my decision to highlight her levitation… honoring her as she reflects my own longing and aspirations. For @caseykaplangallery upcoming presentation at Art Basel Miami Beach @artbasel , I’m contributing my latest painting, entitled “Chimé (Eternal Lamp of Dharma)” (2023), a monumental oil portrait of Chime Lama, pictured in the prayer room at Kunzang Palchen Ling (KTD) @barwaydorje_dharma Monastery (founded by her father, the Third Bador Tulku Rinoiche) in Red Hook, NY. Image: “Chimé (Eternal Lamp of Dharma)” 2023 Oil on canvas 80 x 94″ / 203.2 x 238.76cm
My relationship to prayer, faith, stillness has ebbed and flowed over the years. I often find myself envying those who have found a practice that grounds them into a place of peace. Since moving to Upstate NY, I have built relationships with people whose lives are dedicated to various forms of Buddhism. One of those people I’ve been lucky enough to meet is Chime Lama @chimi.choden — a Tibetan American writer and multi-genre artist. In addition, as I move through my own journey towards motherhood, it was very apt that the day we connected to photograph for this painting, she was 5 months pregnant — probably adding to my decision to highlight her levitation… honoring her as she reflects my own longing and aspirations. For @caseykaplangallery upcoming presentation at Art Basel Miami Beach @artbasel , I’m contributing my latest painting, entitled “Chimé (Eternal Lamp of Dharma)” (2023), a monumental oil portrait of Chime Lama, pictured in the prayer room at Kunzang Palchen Ling (KTD) @barwaydorje_dharma Monastery (founded by her father, the Third Bador Tulku Rinoiche) in Red Hook, NY. Image: “Chimé (Eternal Lamp of Dharma)” 2023 Oil on canvas 80 x 94″ / 203.2 x 238.76cm
Studio views 🍂
In January of 2022, I made an Instagram post declaring “People of Color in Catskills, NY – get at me. Looking for community – I know we out here, just trying to find ya” inspiring a Discord channel where the name Hudson Valley BIPOC Block Party was born. The name was a literal reflection of our desire for this community to be a celebratory safe space representative of BIPOC folks calling New York’s Hudson Valley home. This past summer our Discord channel, which was initially full of enthusiasm, went quiet. It became clear that we needed to pivot. We have since re-crafted our online presence by utilizing WhatsApp and Instagram, creating a fluid space for communication. We haven’t looked back since. This past July, we hosted our first event at @haranamarket ! We put out surveys and asked the community about their vision and offerings for the group, which allowed us to clarify the group’s future. We gathered business recommendations, hosted Zoom community hangs, and planned for what was to come next. With that, a new name and identity was born. Like a caterpillar that gets its wings, we are embracing change – we have stepped into our truest form and would love to re-introduce ourselves to you all. We are Upstate Color. @upstatecolor
In January of 2022, I made an Instagram post declaring “People of Color in Catskills, NY – get at me. Looking for community – I know we out here, just trying to find ya” inspiring a Discord channel where the name Hudson Valley BIPOC Block Party was born. The name was a literal reflection of our desire for this community to be a celebratory safe space representative of BIPOC folks calling New York’s Hudson Valley home. This past summer our Discord channel, which was initially full of enthusiasm, went quiet. It became clear that we needed to pivot. We have since re-crafted our online presence by utilizing WhatsApp and Instagram, creating a fluid space for communication. We haven’t looked back since. This past July, we hosted our first event at @haranamarket ! We put out surveys and asked the community about their vision and offerings for the group, which allowed us to clarify the group’s future. We gathered business recommendations, hosted Zoom community hangs, and planned for what was to come next. With that, a new name and identity was born. Like a caterpillar that gets its wings, we are embracing change – we have stepped into our truest form and would love to re-introduce ourselves to you all. We are Upstate Color. @upstatecolor
In January of 2022, I made an Instagram post declaring “People of Color in Catskills, NY – get at me. Looking for community – I know we out here, just trying to find ya” inspiring a Discord channel where the name Hudson Valley BIPOC Block Party was born. The name was a literal reflection of our desire for this community to be a celebratory safe space representative of BIPOC folks calling New York’s Hudson Valley home. This past summer our Discord channel, which was initially full of enthusiasm, went quiet. It became clear that we needed to pivot. We have since re-crafted our online presence by utilizing WhatsApp and Instagram, creating a fluid space for communication. We haven’t looked back since. This past July, we hosted our first event at @haranamarket ! We put out surveys and asked the community about their vision and offerings for the group, which allowed us to clarify the group’s future. We gathered business recommendations, hosted Zoom community hangs, and planned for what was to come next. With that, a new name and identity was born. Like a caterpillar that gets its wings, we are embracing change – we have stepped into our truest form and would love to re-introduce ourselves to you all. We are Upstate Color. @upstatecolor
