Janet Jones, a long-serving faculty member in York University's School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) and internationally recognized and exhibited artist, has passed away.
After earning a BFA in painting and photography from Concordia University, an MFA from York University and a PhD in art theory and criticism from New York University, Jones joined York as a faculty member in the Department of Visual Art & Art History.
For over 40 years, Jones was known for combining creative work with academic research, focusing on studio art and cultural theory, and exploring how these two fields intersect. She was also regarded as a beloved teacher who cared deeply for mentoring and celebrating her students, a quality that led her to receive the Faculty of Fine Arts Dean's Teaching Award in 2002.
Janet Jones
"In the classroom, she inspired many generations of students with her insight and unwavering support," says Sarah Bay-Cheng, dean of AMPD.
Beyond the classroom, Jones also contributed significantly to York University through multiple administrative roles, including chair of the Department of Visual Art & Art History, director of the MFA and PhD programs in visual arts and coordinator of the Fine Arts Cultural Studies program.
While at York, Jones was an active practicing artist, with many of her paintings being displayed regularly in AMPD buildings. Her art, and its impact, extended well beyond campus too.
Jones was recognized for her contributions to abstract painting in Canada, particularly a body of work engaging with urban space, technological culture and film history. Notably, her paintings often considered the relationships between globalism, feminism, technology and more. Jones' art has been exhibited across Canada as well as in the United States, Europe and China. Her work is held in numerous public and corporate collections, including the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the MacLaren Art Centre, the Schulich School of Business, BMO and TD Bank.
"Her work was vibrant and engaging, outmatched only by the presence of Janet herself," says Bay-Cheng. "Professor Jones was a remarkable artist, mentor, teacher and vibrant force in our School. Her contributions to the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, and to the broader Canadian art community, were profound and will be long cherished and remembered."
This story was originally featured in YFile, York University's community newsletter.
