JACLYN ISKOW
PROJECTS
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Iczkowicz: The Modern Philosophy of a Woman (2023-2025)
During my final year as a student at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, USA I completed my photographic thesis, Iczkowicz: The Modern Philosophy of Woman, which earned the 2024 Imre J. Molnar Artistic Achievement Award. This project was a profound journey and documentation of self-exploration, merging personal identity with broader cultural themes like technology, fashion, religion, feminism, and family sociology. I handled every aspect of production, including lighting, set design, makeup, and costume.
Iczkowicz began in 2022 during my third year and is inspired by my family history, particularly my paternal great-grandmother, Esther. She immigrated from Poland to escape Nazi persecution. Her last name, "Iczkowicz," was altered to "Iskow" during the transit across the border in Nova Scotia. Esther’s story deeply influences me as well as her son, Alvin Iczkowicz who was a WWII veteran and oil painter. I never had the pleasure of meeting either of them and instead use my artistry as a bridge- one that doesn't rely on the limitations of the physical body.
In 2024, I published the first volume of Iczkowicz as a self-publication, now in homes worldwide. Its success led to exhibitions across Detroit, including the Valade Family Gallery, Detroit Artists Market, and The Scarab Club, where it earned a third-place prize. It was also featured in events like Detroit Month of Design and the NOVA24 Photo & Film Festival.
The project has since evolved from a reflection of who I was into an exploration of who I might become. By delving into ideas of self-delusion—whether imagining life as a pop star, influencer, internet personality or someone of cultural significance—I actively celebrate, critique, and mock the cultural spaces I inhabit, continuing my journey of artistic and personal growth.
