NJMH’s current Artist-in-Residence, J’Renee, is an internationally acclaimed artist best known for her reverse glass paintings —also known as églomisé—which vividly capture themes of Southern life, tropical motifs, and the unique cultural fabric of New Orleans, both before and after Hurricane Katrina. Her work often explores narratives of social justice, history, and folklore, blending bold aesthetics with powerful storytelling. J’Renee’s inimitable works are currently on display at NJMH, where they will remain through the end of May 2025. Come by and witness her one-of-a-kind display!
“I attempt to evoke creative impressions of the mind, through which the individual viewer of my art draws upon personal experiences to initiate a unique interpretation of the works,” writes J’Renee. “My artistic artwork is deeply involved in themes of communities of color, New Orleans mysticism, and POC history to name a few. Recently, within the last few years, I’ve been creating paintings and installations that capture the old belief that the objects that our ancestors possess, used, and cherished have the capacity to be charged with their energy. They carry strong statements about family, their values, and the legacies that will not die easily.”
A graduate of Xavier University (BFA, 1989), J’Renee launched her professional career in 1991 with her first major exhibition alongside the esteemed artist William Tolliver, under whom she also apprenticed. She was later commissioned by RCA to create the album cover artwork for Delfeayo Marsalis’ debut solo release, Pontius Pilate’ s Decision.
Over the past 30 years, her work has been showcased in solo and group exhibitions across the U.S. and internationally, including at the Columbia Museum of Art, the United Nations, the MoCADA Museum, Stella Jones Gallery, and the McKenna Museum of African American Art. Her pieces are part of several prestigious permanent collections, such as Southern University Museum of Art (SUMA), the W.E.B. DuBois Museum in Ghana, the Ernest A. Finney Cultural Arts Center, and the International African American Museum.
She has been selected to participate in the South Carolina Biennials (2011, 2024) and ArtFields (2013, 2018, 2022). In 2025, she is now having a residency by the Joan Mitchell Foundation, and is currently presenting a solo exhibition at The National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
J’Renee’s collectors include a who’s who of cultural icons and creatives: television producer Mara Brock Akil, Academy Award-winning actress Viola Davis, Vanessa Williams Wiseman, and Lisa Nicole Carson. Her art is also part of the collections of music legends Quincy Jones, Teena Marie, Art Neville, Wynton Marsalis, N’Dea Davenport, jazz pianist Bobby Short, and Marc Morial, former mayor of New Orleans and current President of the National Urban League.
Her work has appeared in Southern Living, Ebony, and even on the big screen in the celebrated film Eve’ s Bayou. Currently, J’Renee continues to push boundaries with new glass installations, expanding the expressive potential of her medium while staying rooted in the stories that define her artistic journey.
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