Judith Roode grew up in suburban Chicago where as a child she participated in her parents’ rehabilitation of the family home. She developed a lifelong interest in the relationships of structure, space and environment. Intellectually and emotionally curious, she found connection to artists ranging from Giotto to Kathe Kollwitz, Richard Diebenkorn, Gustav Vigeland, and Joan Semmel. She was actively involved in the feminist art movement of the ‘70s onward. In her artistic practice she focused on female experience, as expressed in intensely observed and developed drawings of the female body.
“Minneapolis artist Judith Roode drew like she was pumping iron: She bore down and put her whole body into each bold charcoal stroke, then repeated the gesture again.”
– Rachel Hutton
“Judith’s affect as a teacher and inspiration was contagious to us who were teaching at MCAD. As we know, she was a tremendous force, and an authentic teacher.”
– Michelle Charles
“Many students, teachers, artists, know what a force of nature Judith was as an artist and teacher…She put the fear of God into me as she guided me through the best drawing education one could ask for. As a teacher she was demanding, dynamic, humorous, and kind. She challenged students to stretch…In her famous Visual Journals course she catapulted my creative potential, and my art life opened wide.”
– Mary Esch
Professional Highlights
Professor at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (1977-1992) Taught Life Drawing and created and taught Visual Journals.
Member, WARM Gallery (1976-1991)
Project Director, Mentor Program, WARM (1982-1988)
Judith created the Mentor Program, a offering of the Women’s Art Registry of Minnesota and served as the first director, connecting protégée artists to a mentor to encourage artistic growth and professional development.
Education
Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA B.A. 1964
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA M.F.A. 1968
Exhibitions
Solo
- 2008 “Body Songs: Judith Roode”, College of St. Catherine, Saint Paul, MN
- 1989 Winona State University, Winona, MN
- 1988 The Camargo Foundation, Cassis, France
- 1987 The College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, MN
- 1986 WARM Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
- 1985 Moorhead State University, Moorehead, MN
- 1984 South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
Two Person
- 1986 “Beneath the Skin” Minneapolis Artists Exhibition Program, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN (with Gabriele Ellertson)
- 1984 Joyce Lyon/Judith Roode, The College of St. Catherine, Saint Paul, MN
- 1974 Judith Roode/Tom Rose, Groveland Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Invitational (Group Shows)
- 2005 9th Street Entry Gallery, Saint Paul, MN
- 1995 “A Familiar Figure” The College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN
- 1992 “Figure 9” The College of St. Catherine, Saint Paul, MN
- 1989 “Drawing the Figure” Viterbo College, LaCrosse, WI
- 1989 “Human Expression in Art, Selections from the Permanent Collection” Tweed Museum, Duluth, MN
- 1988 “The New Figure” Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI
Selected Work in Collections
Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN:
Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, MN:
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA