Today we’d like to introduce you to Jahniah Kum.
Hi Jahniah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am where I am today because of the love and support of my parents, who nurtured my curiosity as a child, but also because of the community that encouraged my interests. Most significantly, many of my teachers and professors, while I pursued my academic career in the arts, became mentors who shaped my understanding of what an artistic life could look like. To name a few: Mrs. Sarah Foster, Thomas Lail, Dr. Jennifer Burns, and Bill Gaskins.
Mrs. Foster mentored me throughout high school, particularly during our International Baccalaureate (I.B.) art courses. She taught me how to write my first artist statement, apply to exhibitions, and understand gallery etiquette. She even helped me apply to my first open calls. Through her guidance, my vocabulary and understanding of the arts began to formally develop.
Years later, studying with Thomas Lail at Hudson Valley Community College became one of the most significant parts of my artistic foundation. In the Fine Arts program, I developed my skills in painting, drawing, and photography. I still regard it as one of the strongest educational experiences I have had. I even stayed an additional year to continue taking his advanced drawing and painting course. Taking my time throughout my educational journey has become an essential part of my story.
After graduating from Hudson Valley Community College, and while navigating the loss of my mother, I learned the importance of moving at my own pace. I came to understand that growth does not have to be rushed and that persistence matters more than speed. After taking a year away from school during the COVID-19 pandemic, I continued my education at the University at Albany, where I pursued my B.A. in Studio Art with a minor in Africana Studies.
At SUNY Albany, I met Dr. Jennifer Burns, who profoundly influenced how I think about research within my artistic practice. She encouraged me to integrate personal research surrounding family lineage into my work (after working on my family tree in Jamaica during my time with her) and helped me understand how scholarship could become an extension of my creative practice. She also offered invaluable guidance about pursuing graduate school and preparing for a career beyond it.
Each of these educators helped me build a framework for navigating the career I have been creating for myself. They not only taught me technical skills but also modeled different ways of sustaining an artistic practice and contributing to the field.
Lastly, Bill Gaskins became an important mentor during my time at MICA. As a MICA alumnus himself, he helped me navigate many of the difficult questions that emerged throughout graduate school. Speaking with someone who had already walked such a specific path made an enormous difference. Having someone like him in my corner gave me confidence during a pivotal moment in my development.
Today, I am a professional artist and a recent 2025 MFA graduate navigating the transition into post-graduate life. I am balancing the development of my studio practice while seeking opportunities that will allow me to continue growing professionally and support myself sustainably. Despite the uncertainty that can come with this stage, this year has been a fruitful period in my career. I was offered a residency, selected for SCOUT during Artscape in Baltimore, which was my first art festival experience, and had the opportunity to exhibit internationally in both Jamaica and Greece.
Looking ahead, I have many goals for the future, including exhibitions, workshops, and continuing to expand my practice. I am also considering the next steps in my personal and professional life, including where I want to build my future. At this moment, I am allowing myself to pause, reflect, and express gratitude for how far I have come before making the next major decisions in my journey.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. I initially went to university to study pharmacy to study toxicology and lost interest. I wanted to somehow to contribute to the cure of breast cancer. After losing my mother, I have taken gap years, mentally checked out and so much more. Balancing anything after such a major loss becomes such a blur especially in the middle of pursing your dreams. It got to a point where I plateaued and could not function. It’s almost a miracle that I kept on making work and showing up for myself in any capacity. Art academia and making work was my through line when dealing with adversities.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an interdisciplinary visual artist who works across painting, photography, printmaking, fiber, and archiving. My practice explores themes of memory, identity, lineage, and storytelling, often using personal history, research, and material experimentation to understand how experiences are preserved and transformed.
I am known for large-scale painting, photography, and research-based projects that examine imagination as a technology of survival. I am most proud of my ability to sustain and continuously develop my studio practice over the past ten years. The work that has emerged from this process has been incredibly rewarding and has allowed me to continue building a visual language that feels authentic to my experiences.
One of the things that sets me apart is my discipline and commitment to the studio. I believe consistency is one of the foundations of a sustainable artistic practice. Treating my studio time with the same dedication and structure as a 9-to-5 job has allowed me to create momentum, maintain focus, and balance the other corners of my life.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is feeling and being safe. As an artist who is the eldest child, I feel like my practice gives me something to call my own. I have always had to compartmentalize myself and my practice is home. At home, I can unwind, be myself and rest.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jahniahkum.art
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byjahniahkum/
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/half-ripe/id1684641971
