We were lucky to catch up with Janet Chloe recently and have shared our conversation below.
Janet, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Reshaping the aesthetic of my art has been so near and dear to me. At the beginning of 2025, I exhibited a piece from a series of drawings that I created around the idea of seeing Africa through “rose-colored glasses”. My experience as a first-generation American has given me consistent access to the side of Africa that the world at large has begun to embrace through our music, fashion, and design. Growing up, it was embarrassing to be African because the narrative of our continent was told through the lens of colonization and capitalism. Commercials only showed this dying and impoverished place. Africans were portrayed as those who could not do for themselves, who needed to be saved, and who needed to be civilized. We did not meet the standard of Western beauty. But at home, our parents smiled as they reminisced on their childhood and the joys they experienced “back home”.
While embarking on this body of work, I want people to reimagine what Africa truly is. I want them to internalize these images of high and working-class Africans. This body of work shows African beauty and lifestyle in a highly stylized, colorful, and abstract way. In a way, the drawing style gives a modern twist to “tribal” drawing techniques depicted in popular African artifacts.
Janet, 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 am an artist from the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. Through the vibrant mediums of digital art, weaving, and acrylic paint my work celebrates Africa’s boundless vibrance, youthful exuberance, and contagious joy. My work draws inspiration from the rich tapestry of African history and textiles, as well as the dynamic energy of pop-art, and African wildlife. Each piece uses bold colors and patterns that mimic the cultural landscape.
After completing my Art degree, I became an art teacher. I come from a lineage of teachers so this felt most natural to me. After three years in the classroom, I created a business that allows me to teach in community art spaces. I currently facilitate workshops at local Universities, for private organizations, and everyday parties for wonderful people.
Outside of teaching, my art is available for art enthusiasts to collect via my website, www.janetchloebrand.com/collect. Whether you are a seasoned collector or novice, my work is a conversation starter and statement to any art collection.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I am currently between two. But I think both tie into seeing people through a lens of justice and helping people see one another through that lens. I don’t have political answers for every injustice in the world. But my heart for my home country and Africa, in general, is tender. It’s such a brilliant and discredited place. So many lies and half-truths have become the voiceover for our narrative. I want to experience the true beauty of that land and I want Africa to be strong and independent. I hope our African leaders will rise to put us In a position to give aid to the world and no longer be drained of our resources and impoverished due to the lack of stewardship.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Flexibility is a plus. Being a full-time creative requires business acumen to move your career forward. As creatives overcome this learning curve, creating a sustainable career is possible. Upon starting my career as an Art Educator, I knew I wanted to homeschool and rear my children once I began having them. Now that I am a mom, I do exactly that.
I’ve always envisioned running a business from home so I could still be very hands-on in my children’s learning experience. Art puts you in that discipline of slowing down to analyze minor details and see beauty in them. Once I started seeing life from a painter’s perspective, I began to embrace the small details that are most significant to the bigger picture of life. I feel a deep loyalty to my home, creating a hospital environment for others to dwell and find healing, building a space for my family to grow and thrive with love everpresent.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.janetchloebrand.com
- Instagram: @janetchloestudio, @janetchloebrand
- Facebook: janetchloebrand
- Other: Tiktok: @theejanetchloe
