Jill was born and raised in Farmingdale, NY. She knew she was going to be an artist from a very early age but didn’t start painting or drawing until she was 13.

In 1986, Jill received a BFA (with honors) from Carnegie Mellon University where she studied with painter, Sam Gilliam (who she is still in touch with today). She then was awarded a full-tuition merit scholarship to The School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she received her MFA in Painting in 1989. While there, she took classes with Maureen Sherlock and developed an interest in feminist/psychoanalytic discourse. She started exploring art in relationship to the social world.

Jill has been an educator for 15 years. Currently, she designs and develops arts programs for 1199 Child Care Fund. Since her return to NYC, she has worked as a Teaching Artist for the Guggenheim Museum (2004-03) and supervised programs for Oasis Community Corporation (2005-03) and the Police Athletic League (2003-02). In Chicago, she designed and implemented arts education programs for kids and adults at The Art Institute of Chicago (2001-1999). The Department of Cultural Affairs (2001), Gallery 37 in the Parks (2000), University of Illinois (2000), Columbia College (1997), ACM Chicago Arts Program (1994-1998), Belvoir Terrace (1999-98), The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1996, 1994-3), Urban Gateways (1994-92), Valparaiso University (1994-91), among others.

Jill currently lives and works in Red Hook, Brooklyn. She is a member at BWAC (Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition) and AC (Artists Collective) and a founding member of the Coffey Park Artists Collective in Red Hook. In Chicago, she was an active part of the Chicago arts community, as well. While there, she was a member at Artemisia Gallery (a well-known non-profit women’s cooperative) and the Chicago Artists Coalition. In addition, she was active with SisterSerpents (a feminist graffiti art group) and served 5 years on the Board of Directors at the New Art Examiner (a nationally recognized visual arts publication).

Jill has been showing her work nationally on a regular basis since the late 1980s. Periodically, she conducts workshops, juries student exhibits and gives lectures about her work at various colleges and universities.

Jill believes in art, ethics, hard work, critical thinking, community service, having fun, freedom and giving kids a future.

Jill grew up in a very ethnic NY Italian family. Today, aside from her daily life as an artist and educator, she is a possessed year-round bike rider, a pool shark and a great cook.