Black Lives Matter Artist Grant Exhibition

Artist Profile | J'reyesha Brannon

A mixed media art piece depicting a tree on a black wooden board. The trunk of the tree is red paper collage. The leaves are painted in green on the board. Under the roots are pictures of the civil rights movement and at the bottom of the board money has been attached. A noose is hanging from the tree and handcuffs and a police badge can be seen in the branches. Around the base of the tree are scattered a white KKK hood, an old fashion sheriff's badge that says “runaway slave patrol,” and a couple of metal crowbars
Systemic Roots2020mixed media on wood28 x 11 inches
Underground Railroad Quilt Codes2020cotton yarn
A black and grey scarf hanging from a clothing hanger. The scarf has diamond patterns on one side and the word “liberation” on the other.
Black Liberation2021cotton, acrylic

About the Artist:

Artist facing the camera and smiling. J’reyesha Brannon is a Black woman with shoulder length curly hair. She is wearing a black lapelless blazer and a light blue shirt.

Artist Bio


J'reyesha Brannon is a born and raised Oregonian who has creative extracurriculars as a trained apprentice weaver, former children's art teacher, crafter of things, and art devotee for over ten years. Her portfolio work in a 3D mixed media assemblage has consistent themes on social injustice and resistance. Despite Brannon's full-time engineering career, she has continued creative outlets in weaving, handicrafts, and mixed media work throughout her life—showing and selling online throughout the last decade.


Her most recent piece focuses on the roots and history that have led to the unjust police system. This piece features symbolism through the use of the tree, which is a twist on the perspective that the police force has "just a few bad apples." The tree's roots are also rotten to show that it is not just a few individuals but the overall system that keeps them protected.


Website: http://www.jreyesha.com

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jreyesha/

Additional Work Examples:

Mixed media box from several angles. The top of the box shows the statue of liberty with the words “lies” and “freedom” painted on top. There are several pieces of paper with typed words nailed to the top and the whole box is propped open by a flattened coke can.
Lies and Freedom Box2010mixed media box7 x 6 x 2 inches
Mixed media box the front of the box shows a head in profile with a diagram of the brain in its head. The front of the box says “if freedom.” Inside the box on the left hand side is a drawing of a Black Power fist, on the right side is a picture of the Black Panther party with the word “Black” in collaged letters.
Freedom Box2010mixed media box8 x 7 x 2 inches