I create art rooted in emotional experience and trauma, using portraiture to explore identity, resilience, and the masks we wear to survive.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
I create expressive figurative paintings that explore identity, emotional vulnerability, and the roles we play in life. My work often features layered faces and masks, using texture and visible brushstrokes to reflect love, hurt, and personal experience. I'm drawn to raw, honest expression where the surface of the painting carries the emotion as much as the image itself.
Where do you find inspiration?My inspiration comes from lived experience-particularly love, pain, and personal transformation. I'm interested in the emotional roles people adopt and the masks we wear to navigate relationships and life. Much of my process is intuitive; I allow movement, texture, and emotion to guide the work rather than over-planning it.
What would you do with $25,000?I would use the funding to expand my practice by investing in materials, larger-scale works, and a dedicated studio environment. This support would allow me to develop a cohesive body of work centered on identity and emotional experience, while also preparing for exhibition opportunities and growing my presence as a contemporary artist.
Vote for Jana Folami 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.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like The People's Artist, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.
