Visual Arts At Benedict College

Art In The Service Of The People

Surviving Katrina

Jennifer Renee

Johnson

J’Renee Artist Statement

J’Renee’s art is a celebration of her existence and the essence of her African American experience. Her works are dramatic combinations of exciting abstract colors embracing a backdrop of ethnic patterns, motifs, tropical settings and colorful figures/portraitures. The art is about the outward appearance of beauty and sensuality which radiates from ones positive strength and inner beauty, strength of spirit, soul and character.

Many people of color from all over the African Diaspora have a history of struggle, daily hardships and painful realities. When observing the work, J’Renee wants the viewer to look past their pain and look inward at themselves finding a place of peace and beauty. When looking at themselves in the mirrors and the windows of J’Renee’s world she wants them to feel good about themselves.

She has been painting traditional artwork and print making throughout her life. She has spent the last ten years creating/perfecting her reverse glass paintings. This process is an artistically, technically and mentally challenging medium. The process leaves very little margin of error, but the finished product is always a wonderful surprise. Her wish is that all of humanity views her work as a heavenly place where they find comfort.