Fern Apfel

Fern Apfel is a still-life painter but instead of painting traditional still-life subjects she paints remnants of the past: old stamps, pages of diaries, pieces from well-thumbed books, playing cards, dominos and other subjects. “By invoking simple and authentic materials from bygone times, my paintings suggest the symbiotic relationship between past and present.” says Fern. Before seeing Fern’s paintings in person one might think they are collaged, but in fact they are not.

Each letter or piece of paper is painted with multiple layers of acrylic paint. Fern does all the actual writing and fine detail work by hand with archival pens. She works from real letters and memorabilia that she has gathered over many years and from all over the world.

“I find great beauty in these old papers. They are nostalgic reminders of things that no longer exist and histories of bygone times. Most of the letters can be read. They come from different decades and locations, but their content is amazingly relevant and endearingly timeless”.  

Fern lives and works Kinderhook, NY.