My paintings are the silence where the world ends. I exhale history into pigment, turning the grit of the past into a visual heartbeat.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
I am a seeker of the honest portrait. While many look for symmetry, I am drawn to the beautiful 'glitches' of the human form—the crooked smiles, the lazy eyes, and the unique architecture of ears and nostrils that the world often tries to hide. I find a sacred beauty in the very things people think make them ugly, because those are the details that make them irreplaceable.
Where do you find inspiration?I find my muse in the intersectionality of the human existence. I am inspired by the way our overlapping identities—our race/ethnicity, our profession, and our culture—converge to create a complex, singular individual. My work lives in that friction, a visual experience that honors where we have been and who we are becoming.
What would you do with $25,000?I would breathe life into a legacy by establishing the W.H. Jernagin Foundation, honoring my great-uncle’s lifelong walk as a ‘watchdog’ for justice and human dignity. This gift would serve as the fertile ground for empowering Black and BIPOC communities—providing the nutrients of education, leadership cultivation, and social justice. Establishing this foundation will ensure that the grit of our history will transform into the thrill of our futures.
Vote for Aja Moon to become The People's Artist while supporting a great cause! Cast your free daily vote or make an even bigger impact when you vote by donation, supporting The Art of Elysium in their mission to use art as a catalyst to help people triumph over difficult life challenges.
Limited-time: 2X votes ends on Sat 6/6 at 9PM PDT
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