Jody Lee Drafta is a multidisciplinary artist whose oeuvre traverses the realms of sculpture, drawing, and photography. Based in Maplewood, New Jersey, Drafta’s works have captivated audiences across the U.S., earning her residencies and grants, including the MacDowell Colony Residency and the Dozier Travel Grant from the Dallas Museum of Art. With a rich educational background encompassing a B.A. in German Literature from Reed College, a B.F.A from the University of Washington, Seattle, and an MFA from The Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University, Drafta’s artistic journey is as diverse as her creations.
At the heart of Drafta’s artistic practice lies a profound exploration of the human presence, captured through her unique mediums and techniques. Her large-scale works on paper are particularly striking, employing unconventional materials like tripe and powdered graphite. This choice of medium isn’t arbitrary; for Drafta, the texture and figuration of stomach lining offer a fresh perspective on spatial inflection in drawing.
In her “Tripe-Graphite Work,” Drafta’s drawings come alive with a palpable sense of human touch. Rather than relying on traditional lines, she employs dispersed volume, creating impressions rather than painterly depictions. This tactile approach invites viewers to engage not just with their eyes but with their sense of touch, fostering a physical empathy and curiosity. The graphite in these works takes on an almost organic quality, resembling a delicate body-skein that dances across the paper, spawning a frothy, transparent skin.
The allegory embedded within these works extends beyond mere aesthetics. Drafta views the rhythm of compression and expansion of the tripe cells as a metaphorical reflection of human existence. The way we navigate the world—equaling, emerging, exceeding, and shrinking back from our physical selves—is mirrored in the very materials she uses, creating a profound dialogue between the body and its surroundings.
In contrast to her tripe-graphite creations, Drafta’s “Drawings in Gouache” offer a vibrant exploration of color, form, and space. Originating from her sculptural endeavors, these works blur the lines between figuration and abstraction. Drafta navigates the erotic nature of space in drawing, pushing the figure deeply into abstraction while simultaneously tying them together and pulling them apart.
Her use of color and layers of white creates a dynamic interplay of veiling and opacity, erasure and solid volume. The aqueous shapes that populate these works stand alone or butt up against each other, drowned in white, inviting viewers to ponder the complex relationship between the body and space. Through these drawings, Drafta mobilizes and rallies forms that inspire both empathy and curiosity, challenging us to confront the unsettled nature of physical and psychic presence.
Drafta’s artistic evolution is a testament to her versatility and commitment to pushing the boundaries of traditional mediums. Her journey began with a focus on sculpture, but it was her exploration of drawing, sculpture, and photography that truly shaped her distinctive artistic voice. Whether it’s her large-scale tripe-graphite works or her intricate gouache drawings, Drafta consistently invites viewers to engage with art on a deeper, more intimate level.
Beyond her studio practice, Drafta has also ventured into the realm of art curation and education. As the owner and guide of Art Gallery Circuit, she offers two-hour tours of gallery shows in New York, including events for FRIEZE NY and FRIEZE LA. Her commitment to supporting the arts extends to her inclusion in Jackie Battenfield’s book, “The Artist’s Guide,” where she shares her innovative approaches to sustaining a thriving studio practice.
In conclusion, Jody Lee Drafta is an artist whose work transcends traditional boundaries, inviting viewers to explore the intricate interplay between body, space, and material. Through her unique choice of mediums and her exploration of human presence, Drafta challenges us to see, touch, and feel art in new and meaningful ways.
