I create to survive—to turn memory, trauma, and silence into images where identity fractures and something honest remains.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
My favorite type of art to create is constructed fine art photography—symbolic, staged portraits that explore identity, memory, and transformation. While my images often feel painterly, they are built through photography using controlled lighting, composition, and carefully constructed environments. I’m drawn to work that exists between the sacred and the human, where beauty and discomfort coexist, often using mannequins alongside live subjects to blur the line between real and constructed.
Where do you find inspiration?I find inspiration in memory, trauma, and the tension between the sacred and the human—where identity begins to fracture.
What would you do with $25,000?I would invest in my practice by expanding my series, upgrading equipment, and producing exhibition-quality work. I would also create opportunities for female veterans who are survivors of sexual assault to access art as a space for expression and healing, using my experience to support those rebuilding their sense of self through creativity.
Vote for Jennifer Parsad 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.
Register now for your opportunity to appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display your artwork at The Art of Elysium's Salon.
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