Judy was born in Shamrock, Texas in 1940 She graduated from Shamrock High School and then attended Columbia Girls School for 2 years and then transferred to the University of Oklahoma. She graduated with a Bachelor's in Sociology.
After graduation she moved to Houston Texas where she was offered a job as a social worker. In the late 1960's She eventually got married and relocated to Columbus Texas where she opened a clothing store named Magnolia Fashions. She had two children named Gregory Thomas Youens and Robert Hal Youens.
In the early 1970's she commuted to the Menil Art School to study oil painting, watercolor and eventually photography. In 1979 she moved to Houston and opened one of the first contemporary Art glass galleries. The galleries name was Perception Art Gallery, which eventually evolved into The Judy Youens Gallery located on Gallery Row at Colquitt and Kirby Drive. She remained in the Gallery business for almost 20 years.
She then retired to Santa Fe in the early 2000's. She attended Santa Fe College Fine Arts where she excelled in Photography. She briefly went buy her maiden name Judy Mundy.Her journeys took her around the globe. She spent time in rural China, Middle East, Egypt, Mexico, Indonesia and went to Africa 2 times.
Her photography was featured in Nikon's full line photography guide in 2005 and 2006. She showed her work in group exhibitions, documentaries, magazine cover's and published a book of her photography titled " Vanishing China "She spent most of her time doing world traveling, photography and painting. She also hired chefs to run cooking classes out of her house.
Judy was on the leading edge of the contemporary Art Glass movement during the 1980's -1990's. She showed the best glass artist from all over the globe. She is one of those rare individuals who touched many lives and will be remembered for her many accomplishments.
Photography Publications
1988 Still photographer for documentary film "This Is My House and It's Not For Sale."
1992 Maine Newspaper - Story on Mel Gibson
1997 - Cemex, Mexico City, Megadiversity: Earth Biologically Wealthiest Nation Book.
1997 - Serbin Communications, Santa Barbara , C.A. Best Of Photographer, Annual Honorable Mention-B/W: Finalist in Color.
2005 - Santa Fe, N.M., Calendar Published by Canyon Graphic Arts.
2005 - Nikon Full Line Product Guide Magazine.
2006 - Nikon Full Line Product Guide Magazine.
January 2006 - Front Page Cover "Photo Techniques" Magazine.
2007 - "The Vanishing China" Book Self Published..
Exhibitions
2006 - Group Show Monterrey Contemporary Art Museum, Monterrey, Mexico.
2007 - New Concept Gallery, Santa Fe, N.M., One Woman Show "Vanishing China"
2007 - New Concept Gallery, Santa Fe, N.M. - Spring Show
2008 - Group Show St.John College, Santa Fe, N.M. "Invisible Forces Of Nature.
2006 - Group Show Monterrey Contemporary Art Museum, Monterrey, Mexico.
Cannon Best Of Photography Book, Honorable mention, 1996 and 1998
Judy Makes the cover shot for Photo Techniques Magazine. She briefly went by her maiden name Judy Mundy.
(March 20, 1940 = February 18, 2024)