Artist Statement
Jamie Lee Wandel is a New Jersey-based painter and educator currently pursuing an MFA (Class of 2028). Her studio practice is anchored in the concept of universality, moving away from specific narrative constraints to explore the formative qualities of the medium. By prioritizing the structural and material origins of a work over a prescribed story, her paintings invite a collective, visceral engagement with form and light.
While her primary focus remains in the studio, Jamie’s professional background as an educator serves as a testament to her technical mastery. She has been a lead instructor within the Little Falls School District since 2022 and maintains a specialized role at the Montclair Art Museum, where she focuses on portfolio-intensive development for emerging artists. Her background includes instructional roles at Hawthorne High School and Slocum Skewes Elementary.
Honors & Recognition
2026
Graduate Award for Creative Excellence, William Paterson University
Education
Expected 2028
MFA, William Paterson University
2024
MAT, New Jersey City University
2021
MSc in Museum Education, University of Glasgow, Scotland
2011
BA in Studio Art & Art History, Aquinas College
Selected Exhibitions
2026
Faculty Show, Montclair Art Museum (MAM)
2025
Group Exhibition, Mana Contemporary Museum, Jersey City, NJ
2025
Faculty Show, Montclair Art Museum (MAM)
2024
Running with Scissors, Leach Gallery, Montclair, NJ
2024
MFA Invitational, Hobart Manor, William Paterson University
Studio & Instructional Practice
2022 – Present
Art Educator, Little Falls School District (Tenured 2026)
2022 – Present
Studio Instructor, Montclair Art Museum (MAM)
2021 – Present
Art Faculty, Passaic County Art Center
2021 – 2022
Art Instructor, Hawthorne High School
2021 – 2022
Art Instructor, Slocum Skewes Elementary
Professional Affiliations
2024 – Present
Oil Painters of America (OPA), Associate Member
2022 – Present
Studio Montclair, Member
2025 – Present
American Art Therapy Association (AATA), Member