To me, art is real-life magic—honest, powerful, and capable of changing how we see the world.
I’ve worked professionally as an actor, administrator, and educator, and even (by accident) found my way into corporate America. But through it all, creating art has been my constant, the thing that keeps my heart whole.
I started my art business in 2008 as an early adopter of Etsy, and in 2010, I was lucky to forge what has now become a decades-long partnership with the Andersonville Galleria in Chicago, IL.
I have a very elastic way of approaching art. I’ve always been drawn to texture and color—whether in language or in forms that can be seen and touched. I’ve never felt the need to commit to just one medium. Instead, I love diving headfirst into new techniques, experimenting, and reshaping them to bring my ideas to life. Photography, mosaics, graphic design, embossing, wire work, sculpting, engraving—you name it, I’ve probably tried it. Playing with images, words, and materials gives me an outlet for my offbeat perspective on the world—the beauty, humor, and, yes, sarcasm that make me pause and take a second look.
In 2020, when life turned upside down for so many of us, I moved from Chicago—my artistic home for nearly 16 years—to the wilds of Wisconsin to be closer to family. As luck would have it, I landed just minutes from an incredible pottery studio. Ceramics had been on my bucket list for years, and from the moment I touched clay, I was hooked. Now, this beautifully challenging art form is my latest creative obsession, feeding my heart in ways I never expected.
Inspiration is everywhere. I hope when you look at my work, you find a little of it, too.
-Jhenai
