Artist Profile
PJ Cobbs is a former fashion journalist who gave up the Prada for a paintbrush.
The British-born Cobbs was inspired to try painting on silk for fashion and function (“Comfortable Paintings” pillows) while living in Paris in the 1990s, at the same time covering fashion shows for various publications. Her subjects included portraits of friends and custom fabrics for various designers.
She began painting on clothing, included silk ensembles and decorating vintage trench coats. Spotted in her hand-painted designs: Queen Latifah, Heidi Klum, Daisy Fuentes, best-selling author Harriette Cole and many others. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Essence, Continental Airlines magazine, Uptown, New York Post, New York Daily News, Cigar Aficionado, House & Garden, Black Enterprise, Look Online.com, Fashion Wire Daily and Fiberarts.
For her latest works, Cobbs scouts the streets capturing images for her “New York Neighborhoods” series, featuring a subjective selection of locales that appeal to both locals and tourists.
Cobbs has exhibited at the Gallery of Wearable Art, Casa Frela Gallery in Harlem, the American Gallery in New York, Hamilton Landmark Gallery, the Harlem Textile Works and in Scope Hamptons. One of her pillows is in a 911 collection at the Smithsonian.
Her work is sold at the NiLu Gallery in Harlem and online on Etsy.com.
Teaching gigs include the Textile Arts Center, JCC Manhattan and the Brooklyn, Queens and New York Public Library; the Newark Museum of Art, and the Art School at Kapalua; she has also been invited to teach at the Hui’Noeau in Maui.
She works from her hole studio in the East Village.