Upon finishing her studies at the Florence Academy of Art, Molly Judd moved to Norway where she began an apprenticeship under Norwegian painter Odd Nerdrum. This experience greatly shaped her artistic expression and solidified her devotion to the use of painting as a form of storytelling. Judd draws inspiration from both the old masters and modern masters such as Kollwitz and Rodin.

Judd’s work has been selected for exhibitions in prominent museums and galleries such as The Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona, Villa Bardini in Florence, and Sotheby’s in Los Angeles. Private collections include The Art Renewal Centre NYC, The Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, and The European Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona.

Judd’s work To Hold was painted partly in Ireland and partly in the Netherlands, where she currently resides. It is an intimate and quiet expression of Judd’s thoughts on what it means to hold another human. The painting was inspired by works such as The Kiss by Rodin and intimate works by Jean-François Millet.

“In this work, I wanted to paint a moment which represents a shift in weight from one body to another — as the female form sinks limply into the arms of the male figure, the weight of holding another human is felt. I wished to express the permanence of such a union which is felt by the solemn manner in which the man’s hand rests on the woman’s back. His face half in shadow, they sit together in complete silence.”