About The Woman

Bio - Jemima Joél (New Orleans, LA, b. 1999) is a multidisciplinary artist, holding titles such as a singer, visual artist, writer, and activist. She studied Sociology and African American Studies at Loyola University, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in 2021. She is a member of The Front Gallery in the Ninth Ward and has performed music at many notable musical venues in New Orleans, such as the Dew Drop Inn and The House of Blues. She has also been featured on Great Day Louisiana for her music and art. Most recently she released two songs, “I’ve Got Me a New Orleans Boy”, and “Burgundy Beauty.”

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Artist Statement - In my visual art practice, I focus on creating narrative-based storytelling pieces. I am a black folk artist, and I use my works to create conversations about how Southern American history affects today’s social climate to promote healing and understanding. I document stories from my family and friends to communicate how we are connected as a direct result of our past. My works are very imaginative in composing art that appears historical, but is told from a modern lens. My works are often a needed discomfort that allows people to connect with their emotions and educate themselves through the viewing of art. Some staple themes in my art are race, sexuality, colorism, motherhood, romance, joy, and oppression. Although my work explores heavy -isms, I strive to highlight Black cultural
resistance. I love for people to see how we have resisted forms of oppression. It thrills me to see people smile, laugh, and feel seen by the viewing of my works. I tend to be loud and political in my art, and I strive to challenge normalized thought patterns. I also use my art to honor and remember my ancestors.

My work is created in series, and the majority of pieces have somewhere between 2-6 storytelling pieces that make up one storytelling piece. It is created after the process of online research and physical archival dives. My primary medium is acrylic paint on wood canvas. I find wood is a beautiful canvas to get down the texture of black skin. I pull from elements of Romanticism where I can place my characters in their worlds. I like to make the proportions between the people and the architecture behind them unrealistic to remind my viewers that the people are at the forefront. I use strong lines to carve out shapes to finish my work. My overall image is heavily inspired by cartoon animation. I often paint still images of people with varying emotions, desiring to show the heart and spirit of
folk authentically. I use bright colors and contrasting color palettes. My visual art style is most inspired by the works of Lina Iris Viktor, Kerry James Marshall, Andrew Lamar Hopkins, Faith Ringgold, John Holyfield, and Jacob Lawrence.

In my performance art, I exude a regal presence incorporating spunk and movement. In my vocal technique, I focus on releasing a tone that is resonant, chilling, but warm and colorful. I write song lyrics and melodies. My music is influenced by rhythm and blues, gospel, and jazz. I love to incorporate dance in my performance art, stemming from my roots in liturgical dance growing up in Baptist church. My performance art is a representation of my
cultural background growing up in New Orleans and as a Black American. I love to write songs about my city in order to keep certain genres and cultural staples alive in our music consumption. I write about the people, neighborhoods, and cultural symbols that surround me. Some of my favorite female singers are Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Ari Lennox, Chloe x Halle, Oleta Adams, Irma Thomas, & Sarah Vaughan.