Obsi Art

Featured Artist: Jaleesa Bartley

Obsidian salutes Jaleesa Bartley as our inaugural Artist-in-Residence

The Artist

The first impression of viewers of Jalessa Bartley’s work is that her art is a dynamic and unique fusion of genres, form, and focus.  Bartley work connects the historical with the contemporary; she is the artist, the storyteller, and the activist.  As Bartley notes, her work is a reflection of her own experiences and a representation of those who came before her.  A self-proclaimed member of the Black Feminist movement, Bartley’s attention is most often focused on African and African –descent women.   Her work is defined by her ability to work in animation, sketching, assemblage, and digital compositing, all of which are designed to accurately and “immediately” produce representations of African and African Diasporan women.  Bartley describes herself as an “artist-feminist-activist-designer,” the guardian of her history and the voice of this generation.  She notes,” Similar to the Akan philosophy of Sankofa,  I believe it is essential  for  everyone to  ‘go back and get that which they have forgotten.’  Because of my position as the story teller or griot, it is my responsibility to give an accurate account of my history in a language that can be understood in a contemporary setting.”

    Jaleesa is a senior in Art and Design and Africana Studies at North Carolina State University.  Please consult her webpage for additional information about her work.

Webpage: http://jaleesabartley.com/

Contact Information: jabartl2@ncsu.edu

The Art

       "Batik"                                                                                "Womanhood"                                                        "Girlhood"

                                                                             "Reflections"                                                                        "The Door"