About

Jabari  Jefferson is a mixed media oil painter based in Washington DC. Jefferson’s vibrant multimedia paintings and sculptures  are layered with found mixed media material such as books, fabric, paper, ink, acrylic and oil paints. His mixed media process involves recycling, repurposing, and recontextualizing discarded items into contemporary art. Jefferson’s works are comprised of painted figures, mixed media surroundings, and materials including previously owned  clothes, children's books, paper collage and other found objects collected throughout his travels.  His process involves searching local  communities for once owned items and repurposing them into usable pieces that add to his overall palette of materials. Inspired by ritualistic practices, Jabari believes in the transfer of energy in the materials from their previous owners. His subject matter ranges from esoteric existences to racial politics and focuses on themes of : self-engagement, self education, exploration of Black culture and history, spirituality, and mythology . Much of his work exclusively features Black subjects together with one another or by one’s self. Spanning across his different bodies of work, his subjects are surrounded by an array of shapes, recognizable objects, or landscapes that fluently move in and out of expressionism and abstraction. His recognizable  maximalist approach allows for him to leave clues to his influences discreetly placed amongst the plethora of material that compose his works..