Janiva Ellis facts for kids

Janiva Ellis, born in 1987, is an American artist. She is known for her paintings that show people and figures. Janiva lives and works in Brooklyn, NY and Los Angeles, CA. Her art often explores what it means to be an African-American woman. She also shares her own journey of finding her identity in the Black community through her artwork.

Early Life and Education

Janiva Ellis was born in Oakland, California. When she was seven years old, her family moved to Hawaii. She lived on different islands there, including Kauai and Oahu. Janiva's father was Black, but she was raised by her white mother in Hawaii. At that time, there were not many Black people in Hawaii.

In her art, Janiva explores how her mixed background shaped who she is. She also looks at the different parts of her identity. She studied painting at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco. She finished her studies in 2012.

Starting Her Art Career

After graduating in 2012, Janiva took a break from the art world. She went back to Hawaii. She felt that the art scene in New York City did not inspire her. She also missed having friends from a similar background. This was hard for her, as she had left Hawaii to find a stronger sense of self. She once said that Hawaii was "a place where I didn’t know any black person until I was 18."

After a few years, Janiva returned to New York in 2017. She had a new way of looking at her childhood. She also had a stronger sense of her own identity, being both Black and white.

One of Janiva's recent artworks is called The Angles. It was shown at the Hammer Vault Gallery in Los Angeles, California. In this painting, she shows how confusing it can feel to find yourself. She also shows the beauty of accepting who you are. An art writer named Aram Moshayedi said that The Angles shows feelings of decay and loss. But if you look closely, you can find moments of beauty and life within the painting.

Janiva Ellis, The Angles, Hammer Projects (2022), Oil on Canvas

How She Creates Art

Janiva Ellis, "Doubt-Guardian", 2018, Oil on Canvas'

Janiva Ellis says her paintings try to do two things. First, she wants to help non-Black women understand her experiences. Second, she wants to ask other black women, "Do you feel this, too?"

Art writer Rachel Corbett has praised Janiva's paintings. She noted the strong feelings in them. She said that the calm landscapes in the background of Janiva's art often clash with the troubled people she paints. These people are sometimes bothered by cartoon characters.

Sometimes, Janiva's paintings include religious symbols. These might be lambs or angels. This connects her work to older religious paintings. In every artwork, Janiva continues to share her story. She includes different parts of her own identity.

In 2017, Janiva had her first solo show in New York City. It was called "Lick Shot" and was shown at 47 Canal. In 2018, she took part in the New Museum Triennial, an art exhibition, called "Songs for Sabotage." Then, in 2019, her work was shown in the Whitney Biennial. This important show was put together by Rujeko Hockley and Jane Panetta.

Exhibitions

Here are some of the places where Janiva Ellis's art has been shown:

• 2017 – "You Catch More Flies With Arsenic Than Honey” – Club Pro, Los Angeles, California
• 2017 – "Cabin Fever" – BBQLA, Los Angeles California
• 2017 – "Lick Shot” – 47 Canal, New York City
• 2017 – "Prick Up Your Ears” – Karma International, Los Angeles, California
• 2018 – “Painting: Now & Forever, Part III” – Greene Naftali, New York City
• 2018 – Triennial: “Songs for Sabotage” – New Museum, New York City
• 2018 – "Keebler’s Revenge" – The American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York City
• 2019 – Whitney Biennial 2019, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City
• 2022 – "The Angles" – Hammer Vault Gallery, Los Angeles, California

Awards

Janiva Ellis has received these awards for her art:

• Rema Hort Mann Foundation Grant, 2018
• Stanley Hollander Award, 2018