Creativity
In addition to her engineering career and civic leadership, J’reyesha is a lifelong “crafter of things.” Her creative practice spans mixed-media assemblages, jewelry crafted from unusual materials, and the careful curation of vintage treasures. Learn more through her blog, or explore her handmade and vintage Etsy shops linked below.
Exhibitions
2023
Black History is History
MAC Gallery, Multnomah Arts Center
Soul & Spirit of Black Joy
Arts Council of Fayetteville / Cumberland County
Ellington White Community Development Corporation
KALAYAAN: An Antifascist Art Show
Malaya Portland, Bayanihan Center
2022
Uncommon Threads: Fiber / Quilting / Weaving Art (Virtual Exhibit)
San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center
Jordan Schnitzer Black Lives Matter Grant Showcase
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State University
Jordan Schnitzer Black Lives Matter Artist Grant Program Awardee
In 2020, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art launched a Black Lives Matter Artist Grant Program, for which J’reyesha was honored to be selected as a recipient. The works created through this program were exhibited at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State University in 2022. View the press release here, and J'reyesha's artist feature here.
Weaving
Weaving has been part of J’reyesha’s creative life since elementary school, where she first learned the craft—long before realizing it would become a lifelong practice. She later taught weaving to elementary students in an after-school program for seven years and further developed her skills as an apprentice to a local master weaver. Her work explores a range of techniques, most commonly using a frame loom influenced by weaving traditions from Argentina and Chile. She occasionally offers weaving instruction upon request, often through affordable workshops or skill-sharing exchanges.
Mixed Media Assemblage
J’reyesha creates thought-provoking artwork that explores themes of social justice, history, and collective memory through a wide range of materials and mediums. Her practice centers on mixed-media assemblage, incorporating found objects, constructed elements, stencil-cut designs, drawings, and paintings to create layered pieces that invite reflection and conversation.
​
Many of her works take the form of small box or curio environments. Her approach draws inspiration from her favorite artists, Betye Saar and Joseph Cornell, whose assemblage practices use collected objects and imagery. Saar’s work, in particular, has long used assemblage to address race, memory, and cultural identity in the United States, transforming everyday objects into powerful political and cultural statements.
J’reyesha’s art blends collage, drawing, and found materials. Each piece becomes a layered composition that connects storytelling, material experimentation, and social commentary.
Handmade Jewelry
Jewelry making has been a part of J’reyesha’s life for more than twenty years, her longest-running creative practice, first learned alongside her mother. Together they created and sold jewelry at juried art shows, local craft markets, and online. While she is less frequently found vending today, J'reyesha has continued to create jewelry throughout her life. Her pieces often incorporate found objects, vintage beads, and organic materials such as bones and shells.
Blog
While I do not post often, I have been writing a long-standing blog since 2011. Read and follow to learn more about my crafting, vintage finds, community involvement, and tidbits about my career.