Janet Montecalvo is a Massachusetts native who was raised in Quincy and currently works at Tripp Street Studios in Framingham. She graduated cum laude with a BA in studio art from Emmanuel College. She was fortunate to study painting with John Terelak, Paul Rahilly and Michael Jacques.

Her career has included a variety of disciplines and achievements in commercial art.

Mural painting at Boston Children's Hospital.
Paint application in public spaces during a 3-year apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Sign Painters and Allied Trades.
Licensure as the first-ever journeywoman sign painter in Boston in 1981.
Establishment of her own business providing lettering, graphic design and illustration services to retailers, design firms, ad agencies, real estate developers and film and television productions.
Recipient of an Emmy Award in 1988 for graphic design contributions to the television movie,"I'll be Home for Christmas," starring Courtney Cox and Hal Holbrook.
Illustration of children's books for more than 15 years including nomination for the 2007 Golden Kite Award for illustrations of the book, "Sofie and the City."
These same illustrations appeared in a solo exhibition at the Danforth Museum.

Montecalvo's commercial and fine art skills are woven throughout her works. They reveal her penchant for detailed work and her appreciation of design and craftsmanship. Her medium of choice has remained oils applied meticulously on wood or canvas.

Her paintings have been described as "contemporary archeology." She explores the spaces and physical objects associated with day-to-day life from mid-20th century to present day. Specific details of these objects and scenes evoke stories of what ordinary people hold dear. There is a "presence of absence" where humans aren't physically present, but evidence of their actions and interests is very much the subject. Montecalvo invites the viewer to move in closely and consider a world of simple pleasures from the past and present.