Ayana V. Jackson facts for kids

Ayana V. Jackson (born May 14, 1977) is an American artist. She is famous for her photography and films. Ayana was born in Livingston, New Jersey. Her art often focuses on modern Africa and the African Diaspora. This means she explores the history and culture of people of African descent living outside of Africa. Some of her well-known series include African by Legacy, Mexican by Birth and Archival Impulse.

About Ayana V. Jackson

Ayana Vellissia Jackson grew up in East Orange, New Jersey. Her family has lived there for a long time. Her grandmother, Angenetta Still Jackson, came from a founding family of New Jersey's first Black settlement, Lawnside, New Jersey. Her grandfather, J. Garfield Jackson, was the first African American principal in Essex County. An elementary school in East Orange was later named after him.

In 2001, Ayana traveled to Ghana. She visited her family's home there. During this trip, she created her first photography series. It was called "Full Circle: A Survey of Hip Hop in Ghana."

Ayana's Education and Learning

Ayana first studied sociology and photography in college. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Spelman College in 1999. In 2005, she studied critical theory and large-format printing. This was at Berlin University of the Arts. She also continued her training at other photography programs. These included the Bakery Photographic Collective and Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris in France.

Her Artistic Career and Works

Ayana's photography series have been shown in many places. These include galleries in South Africa, the United States, and Germany. Her work has also been displayed at the Mexican Museum. The U.S. State Department and the World Bank have also featured her art.

She has received grants to support her work. These grants came from organizations like the Inter-American Foundation and Puma Creative. A grant from Puma Creative helped her take part in the 2009 Bamako African Photography Biennial. This is a big event for African photography.

Ayana has also created public art exhibitions. One of these was for Project Row Houses in Houston, Texas. Her photographs have appeared in many publications. These include the New York Times blog called Lens. She has also given talks and led workshops. These events took place at universities and art centers in the U.S., Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.

Full Circle: Hip Hop in Ghana

In her series "Full Circle," Ayana shows the music scene in Ghana. It helps us see how Hip Hop has spread beyond the U.S. and into Africa. The photos let viewers connect with this changed culture. She shows how a popular Western music style influenced "Hip Life" in Ghana. Ayana's photos add warmth to each image. They invite the audience to think about how Hip Life has transformed.

African by Legacy, Mexican by Birth

"African By Legacy, Mexican By Birth" is a powerful photography series. It includes stories by Marco Villalobos. This work explores what it means to have racial and cultural citizenship. It focuses on people of African descent in Mexico and other parts of the Americas. The exhibition honors the spirit of Yanga. He was a maroon leader in Mexico who fought for his people's freedom. This series shows the ongoing presence of Afro-Mexicans. Parts of this series were shown in Latin America. These places included the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Colombia.

Ayana's Film Work

Ayana V. Jackson also works in film. She collaborated with writer and filmmaker Marco Villalobos.

Rompiendo el Silencio

Rompiendo el Silencio (which means "Breaking the Silence") is a 12-minute film. It has Spanish and English subtitles. This film is an ongoing project by Jackson and Villalobos. It explores common struggles and celebrates diversity. It also looks at the origins of modern "maroonage." Maroonage refers to communities of escaped enslaved people. The film connects history to current events. It combines personal stories with images taken on Super 8. The film also includes sound art and interviews from their trips in 2003 and 2005.

Exhibitions and Shows

Ayana V. Jackson's work has been shown in many exhibitions around the world.

Solo Exhibitions

Group Exhibitions