Jane Hartley’s still life and figurative paintings are a testament to refined craftsmanship and timeless beauty. A graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), with further classical training at The Schuler School of Fine Arts, Hartley merges her foundation in graphic design with a reverence for the Old Masters to create contemporary realist works that captivate the imagination.

Her paintings invite quiet contemplation—blending classical technique with narrative subtlety. In an art world often preoccupied with trends and spectacle, Hartley’s work stands apart: disciplined, emotionally resonant, and deeply human. Each piece offers viewers a moment of pause—a visual space for reflection, connection, and storytelling.

A Signature Member of American Women Artists and Juried Member of leading realist organizations including the American Society of Traditional Artists, International Guild of Realism, and Oil Painters of America, Hartley’s work is held in both private and corporate collections and has been widely exhibited across the U.S.  After living many years in St. Michaels on Maryland's Eastern Shore, she currently resides on St. Simons Island in Georgia.

Works from Hartley's The Music Box collection are on display at Pryor Fine Art. The inspiration for this collection comes from Kurt Vonnegut's 1952 debut novel, Player Piano, which imagines a future version of the United States in which automation replaces human jobs.  Though the player piano itself is something of a relic today, its invention in the late nineteenth century prompted debates about the way that people could relate to music performed by a machine. In today's age of robotics and artificial intelligence, Hartley reflects on the challenge of finding the balance between seeking technological progress and preserving the human spirit.