Marjorie Portnow studied at Western Reserve University, Pratt Institute, and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture before earning her MFA from Brooklyn College, where she worked with painters Philip Pearlstein and Gabriel Laderman.

Known for her plein air landscapes, Portnow creates paintings that convey a strong sense of atmosphere, light, and location. Her process begins with careful observation and composition, often using a grid to establish structure before developing the image through layers of oil paint. This method allows her to gradually refine each work while preserving the openness and clarity that characterize her paintings.

A deep connection to place is central to Portnow’s work. She frequently returns to the same landscapes, revisiting them over time to build a richer understanding of their unique qualities. Through repeated observation and painting, she develops an intimate relationship with the spaces that inspire her, capturing both their physical presence and emotional resonance.

Portnow has been awarded fellowships at Yaddo and the MacDowell Colony and has received numerous honors, including the Hassan Purchase Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, an Ingram Merrill Grant, and a Louis Comfort Tiffany Grant.

-Biographical information adapted from the National Academy of Design