We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ja. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ja below.
Aja, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is a sculpture titled “This Comfort”. I created it during a period of profound introspection, when my anxiety was at its peak. It was a time of emotional desolation, where I found myself grappling with uncomfortable, yet essential questions: Why do I hold onto this heaviness, even when I know it’s not helping me? How do we find solace in the things that hold us back? And what does it say about us when we find comfort in the discomfort? These questions, which arose from the depths of vulnerability, became the foundation for the piece—a quiet exploration of the paradox of finding something almost nurturing in something that should be unsettling.
The sculpture portrays a body beneath a black silk sheet. The figure appears to be mid-motion—crawling, reaching, almost escaping—but never fully breaking free. There’s a tension between resistance and surrender. The sheet, soft and enveloping, symbolizes comfort, yet also acts as a barrier. It holds the body in place, creating a quiet struggle between the desire to emerge and the pull to stay hidden in what’s familiar. That’s the paradox: sometimes the things that soothe us also keep us stuck. The discomfort underneath is real, but the comfort of the covering is seductive—warm, known, and hard to let go of. The piece was created with the help of Logan Wiggins, a talented multidisciplinary artist and dear friend, who assisted in casting my body to form the structure of the work.
“This Comfort” delves into the concept of seeking comfort within discomfort, especially in the context of depression. It encourages viewers to examine the psychological layers of this paradox, where the familiarity of despair can sometimes offer a false sense of security. The piece doesn’t present a solution or offer easy answers; rather, it stands as a quiet reflection—a mirror for those who struggle to articulate their inner world. It gently urges us to recognize the places where we’ve unconsciously settled into suffering, while also nudging us toward the realization that survival is not the same as healing. True healing requires more than just enduring the pain; it asks us to confront it, understand it, and ultimately, move beyond it.
In its enigmatic beauty, the sculpture offers a profound exploration of the human experience and the delicate balance between darkness and light. What made it most meaningful to me was how it resonated with others once it left my hands. I received messages from viewers expressing gratitude, sharing how it sparked difficult conversations and opened eyes to a truth many had struggled to express.The sculpture became more than just an artwork—it became a bridge between isolation and understanding.
Aja, 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?
My name is Ja, and I’m a contemporary fine artist currently based in New York. My work blends figurative and abstract elements to explore the emotional physical and spiritual language of the body. With a background in dance, I’ve always understood movement as a form of communication—and that shows up in my painting. I use posture, tension, and gesture to express what words often can’t.
I started painting seriously in 2021 while living in LA. It was a quiet, transitional time in my life, and I found myself turning inward a lot. One day, I sat down to paint and something just clicked. It felt honest, like I had finally found a language that made sense to me—and I’ve been creating from that place ever since.
What sets me apart is that I paint from feeling, not form. My work is intuitive, emotional, and rooted in movement and introspection.
I’m most proud of my first solo show, Sore Throat: The Unspoken Language of the Body, which took place in August 2024 in the Arts District of Los Angeles. The exhibition featured 30 works alongside a live performance by movement artists Gabriella Bridgmon and Kelian Stafford, accompanied by violinist Alejandro Junco. Together, they created a visual and sonic representation of two bodies communicating through posture, movement, and sound. It was a deeply vulnerable and special show that holds a place in my heart, marking a moment where I fully shared a part of myself and stepped into my identity within the art world.
At the core, I want people to know that I create from a deeply personal place. My work holds space for emotion, embodiment, and all the things we don’t always have the words for.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the opportunity to share your gift, connect with others, and leave a lasting mark on the world. It’s about creating something that resonates, adding to the collective experience, and knowing that your work will continue to exist long after you’re gone.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Yes, there’s a video of Virgil Abloh’s lecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design that significantly impacted my approach to creativity and management. In the lecture, he discusses the concept of a “Personal Design Language”, which he defines as the unique set of ideas, values, and aesthetic choices that an individual develops over time. It’s the way a creator communicates their vision, style, and message through their work, shaped by their personal experiences and worldview. This idea really helped me define myself as an artist, encouraging me to embrace my own distinct voice and approach to painting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jafineart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jafineart
- Other: Artsy : https://www.artsy.net/artist/ja
