Jennie Maruki was born in California and she spent the war years in an internment camp. She was hospitalized for mental illness after traveling to the East Coast following the war. After her release from the hospital, she began living in a large, group residence where she was known as cheerful, energetic and hard working. Most of her paintings are elongated female figures, usually wearing blue, that often appear to float. The figures are sometimes accompanied by small animals, trees or flowers, shaded in black. Several years ago, Maruki broke her right, dominant arm. She continued painting with her left arm. Her blue and black palette remained the same, but the result is remarkably strong, bold work – different in power, but somehow you know it’s still Maruki’s painting. Maruki no longer paints and is very frail.