Walk into Nancy Cohen’s studio at the ArtsXchange in St. Petersburg, and you’re immediately greeted with temptation: velvet cakes, glistening candies, powdered pastries, and shiny confections—all so detailed you can almost taste them. But these sugary delights aren’t for snacking. They’re oil paintings, executed with classical precision and a wink of humor, forming part of Cohen’s boldest body of work to date: This Is How I Got Fat.
A late-blooming painter with the skill of a Renaissance master and the spirit of a modern rebel, Cohen has quickly become one of the most distinctive still-life artists in the region. Her canvases, often dramatic in lighting and saturated with color, are a celebration of indulgence—and a quiet rebellion against shame.
The Artist’s Journey
Born in New York, Cohen spent much of her early adult life in the Northeast, dabbling in a variety of artistic mediums, including pottery and mixed media. But it wasn’t until age 50 that she picked up a brush with serious intent. “I took one oil painting class in New York, and I was hooked,” she says. “It felt like I had found my language.”
After relocating to St. Petersburg, Florida, Cohen immersed herself in the city’s vibrant and supportive arts community. She joined the ArtsXchange in the Warehouse Arts District, where she still works today, and began exhibiting locally.
Unlike many painters who begin with landscapes or portraits, Cohen gravitated toward the domestic—food, kitchenware, and the comfort objects of everyday life. “I love painting things that people might overlook,” she says. “But when you look closely, there’s so much beauty in these ordinary subjects.”
Dessert with a Message
Her most well-known series, This Is How I Got Fat, is more than a collection of treats—it’s a meditation on indulgence, memory, and the deeply personal politics of food and body image.
“There’s so much guilt wrapped around what we eat, especially for women,” Cohen explains. “I wanted to challenge that. I wanted to paint desserts not as objects of shame, but of joy.”
Each composition is grounded in Old Master technique—think chiaroscuro lighting and bold, layered oils—but with modern sensibilities. Her cupcakes seem lit from within. Ice cream cones loom like monuments. Macarons float in painterly perfection, poised delicately but powerfully.
Critics and collectors alike have praised the work for being both serious and playful. “These paintings are lush and luscious,” noted curator Amanda Cooper of the Morean Arts Center, where Cohen exhibited the series in 2023. “They seduce you, and then they make you think.”
Light and Shadow
Cohen’s technical abilities come from a deep respect for the tradition of painting from life. She sets up real still lifes in her studio—desserts, dishes, candy in jars—then waits for the perfect natural light to hit. “Photography can’t capture the subtlety of shadow the way your eye can,” she says.
The results are paintings that feel almost cinematic. Deep shadows create a theatrical stage for the subjects, while highlights on frosting and glassware seem to shimmer with emotion.
“Even though I’m painting inanimate objects, they’re full of life,” she says. “I want viewers to feel something—not just hunger, but a kind of recognition, a memory, a feeling of comfort.”
A Place in the Arts Community
Cohen has become a fixture in St. Pete’s creative scene—not just for her art, but for her warm, approachable presence. Her studio at the ArtsXchange is open during Second Saturday ArtWalks, where visitors often linger, struck by the realism and intimacy of her work.
She’s exhibited at the Morean Arts Center, Temple Beth-El, and several local galleries. In 2024, she was featured on Fox 13 News, which praised her ability to turn domesticity into something beautiful and bold.
Despite the attention, Cohen remains refreshingly grounded. “I didn’t go to art school. I didn’t grow up dreaming of this,” she says. “But I think that’s what makes it all feel so real to me. I’m painting from life, literally and emotionally.”
Looking Ahead
Cohen’s next series is rumored to explore another form of indulgence—perhaps nostalgia-laced objects like toys, vintage packaging, or mid-century ceramics. But she’s not in a rush.
“I only paint what I love,” she says. “And I want the viewer to love it too.”
With her rich colors, confident brushwork, and unwavering sense of humor, Nancy Cohen is redefining what still life can be in the 21st century: not static or silent, but vibrant, delicious, and full of soul. •
Visit Nancy Cohen’s studio at the ArtsXchange St. Pete
(515 22nd St S, St. Petersburg, FL)
on Second Saturdays, 5-9pm, or by appointment.
Instagram: @nancycohenstudio
