From Student to Full-Time Artist: Building a Creative Life with Purpose
An Artist Talk with Nneka Jones
Friday October 16th at 11 AM on Zoom
Member price : $20
Non Member price: $25
Join Trinidadian-born multidisciplinary artist Nneka Jones for an inspiring conversation about creativity, courage, and building a sustainable life as a working artist.
In this virtual artist talk, Nneka will share her journey from Trinidad to the United States and the experiences that shaped her path from art student to full-time professional artist. She will reflect on making that transition during the uncertainty of the pandemic, selling her first original artworks through her first public exhibition, her hand embroidered TIME magazine cover and learning to build a career beyond the traditional expectations placed upon emerging artists.
Nneka will also explore the evolution of her artistic practice, from creating work that was primarily visually appealing to developing deeply narrative, research-driven pieces that examine identity, history, culture, resilience, and the stories that are often overlooked. Through examples from her portfolio, she will offer insight into how an artist’s voice can deepen over time and how personal experience can be transformed into artwork with broader social and emotional impact.
Today, Nneka’s practice extends beyond the studio. She travels throughout the United States and internationally to exhibit her work, collaborate with organizations, and teach hands-on workshops that encourage others to explore their own creativity. Her goal is to be not only a living artist whose work may be studied and written about, but also an accessible artist whom students, makers, and community members can meet, learn from, and engage with directly.
The talk will conclude with a brief introduction to Nneka’s curated art kits, created to help participants continue exploring embroidery and mixed-media techniques beyond the event.
About the Artist
Nneka Jones is a Trinidadian-born multidisciplinary artist known for her intricate embroidery, mixed-media portraiture, public art, and narrative-driven installations. Her work combines traditional handcraft with contemporary storytelling to explore identity, cultural memory, social history, and the experiences of underrepresented communities. In addition to maintaining an active studio practice, Nneka teaches workshops, speaks about her creative journey, and works with museums, schools, cultural organizations, and communities across the United States and internationally.
Lecture will be recorded, recoding will be available through October 23rd
Artist website and curated kits:
https://www.artyouhungry.com/
https://www.artyouhungry.com/embroiderykits
