We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Adia Jamille a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Adia, appreciate you joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

The very first time I sold a piece of art I was just starting college, I was either 19/ 20 years old. I had painted a small canvas, and I was showing it for my public speaking course. It was yellow and red, mostly, and I believe there were cat tails or something similar. It was from a dream I had. My professor loved and bought it for $10. I can’t even remember the professor’s name, but it was so cool to just have someone request to buy my work. Hopefully they held on to it, and maybe one day it’ll be worth a lot of money.

Adia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have always been a creative person, as long as I can remember. But I also had a desire to help people. I knew that healthcare wouldn’t be ideal for me, because I wouldn’t be able to be creative in the ways that I need to be. In college I was pursuing interior design, when I came across a fibers course that I chose to fill up my schedule to keep full time and keep my scholarships/ grants. Eventually I fell in to support work and herbalism as a means to support my family and friends. As I began studying plants more and building around working them I began to see how all my interests intersect. Many of the plants I grow are both medicinal and/ or edible and can be used for the fiber arts in some way. To keep my work sustainable and responsible I focus on ancestral and local plants, as well as growing my own materials. That means if I use a plant for food or medicine or art, most of the time I spent the time to care for that plant from seed. Which means everything I create using those plants have been in my care for at least a year, sometimes longer.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is the culmination of all the thoughts, ideas, plans, etc coming together from nothing, to create something that has never existed until my hands made it. It’s a gift I’m extremely grateful for.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

For nearly 30 years as I’ve had the goal to create museum worthy art. I want to be part of permanent collections around the world. I want to become a part of art history. I want to do things that are impactful. I create because I feel compelled to, meaning there’s something within me that is unhappy when I’m unable to create. But I want to make sure I’m creating with intention and purpose, not solely consumption.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.adiajamille.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adiajamille
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdiaJamilleShop