+Bio+

Jenna Arvelo is a Haitian -American artist based in Brooklyn NY, with a practice melded in surreal modes of painting and imagery. Arvelo uses her likeness as the lead protagonist in her compositions, projecting an inner world of self-reflection and endless discovery. Her practice having been irrevocably tied with self-care, personal experience, and the practice of her spiritual heritage; is not a political statement in itself; yet is not limited to the experiences of living within the political battleground as both black and a woman. With concepts heavily influenced and saturated in symbolism and spiritual significance; these paintings become more of the act of praying, channeling, and creating safe spaces for inner worlds to exist in defiance of the placed boundaries and limitations of the political body.

+Statement+

Arvelo's work focuses on the connections between forgotten pasts, current events, and an unfolding future. She creates staggering mystical paintings of various sizes, incorporating tradition from her Haitian and African American heritage. Drawing from heirloom-like stories, she develops her metaphysical visual language. Arvelo bridges symbolic communication between these two diasporas, driven by a deep desire to understand her cultural identity and explore ways of life through remembrance. She creates self-portraits that range from magical realism and unimaginable manifestations that delve into the complexity of selfhood and reflect a return to ancestral knowledge. Using private divination methods, Arvelo surfaces rich ancestral stories and folklore in her paintings. As her work evolves, the paintings become sites of sacredness, ritual, and communion with the unseen, inviting viewers to expand their perspectives.

Spirit Box I, 2024