ATRIUM ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: POETRY JACKSON¬

Engage with working artists creating on-site inspired by Kara Walker: Cut to the Quick and LaToya M. Hobbs: Flourish. Artists will have mobile studios set up in the Virginia MOCA Atrium. The residency aims to support and amplify the work of regional artists while creating another entry point for Museum visitors to engage with contemporary art and ideas in connection with the main gallery exhibitions.

This month's Artist in Residence is Poetry Jackson.

Schedule:

Saturdays, April 1, April 29, May 6, May 13, & May 20  

Artist Statement

As an artist, I am constantly inspired by the world around me and the complex social and cultural issues that shape our experiences. The opportunity to participate in a residency at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, alongside the Kara Walker and Latoya Hobbs exhibitions, is particularly exciting for me because their work grapples with important themes of race, gender, and identity in a way that is both thought-provoking and visually striking.

During my time at Virginia MOCA, I hope to engage with these themes in my own work, exploring the ways in which they intersect with my own experiences and identities. I am also excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with other artists and engage with the local community. I believe that art has the power to inspire change and spark important conversations, and I am looking forward to using this residency as a platform to explore these issues and contribute to the ongoing dialogue.

Bio

LaJae Essence, best known publicly as Poetry Jackson, is a professional artist who specializes in versatile visual arts and paintings. She is a poet, instructor and visual artist, also the Founder of the 757 Street Art Battle, Artkive Mural Group (AMG) and holds the Public Relations Chair for the Visual Arts Advancement Collective (VAAC). In addition to the instructing of Therapeutic Arts at local institutions, she also serves on local public art committees and sits on the board of for the arts nonprofit. For a duration of years with fine arts in private and public involvement. LaJae continues to aspire to remain purposeful in the art community. Her creative process empowers artists to be inspirational leaders. Her goal is to create work that stimulates dialogue about critical issues, and builds bridges of connection and understanding.

poetryjackson.com