"Art and The Artist" is an exploration of my identity as a transgender man in the current political climate. Overwhelmed by information at every turn, opinions given regardless of seeking, and the wavering duality of claiming my identity as my own, I explore who I am and where I stand as an artist, creative, man and person as a whole. The way my femininity mixes with my lived experience and the desire for masculinity to encourage my behavior and looks clash in a way that is uniquely "Mac". I am the art and the artist, I am the trans and the gender, I am in constant flux, and I am destined to be myself, so I must sort these feelings in the way I best can. My work is intentionally overwhelming, yet it fails to encapsulate even a fraction of the constant hum of thoughts, so I create. The process based nature of this work has evolved a portrait from girlhood to manhood over the span of 4 years, serving as an intimate look into my fears, desires and thoughts on who I am.

As an artist, curator, and researcher, my work exists at the intersection of public history, community preservation, and social impact. I am dedicated to uncovering and uplifting overlooked narratives, particularly those of Queer and Black identities in Baltimore and beyond. Painting is my way of deep diving into my identity to push my boundaries of what's a given. My art illustrates places and feeling we may not fully understand but need deeply, I aim to create spaces where art fosters connection, education, and collective memory.

My practice is deeply rooted in the power of place—how history, environment, and people shape identity. I use color, symbolism, and historical research to reclaim public spaces by challenging dominant social rules that limit each other and ourselves. Whether through large-scale murals that reflect neighborhood stories, exhibitions that center community voices, or digital archives that preserve cultural legacies, my work seeks to honor the past while inspiring future dialogue.

As TWZ, my artistic identity is fluid, shifting between roles of creator, facilitator, and documentarian. I believe in art as a tool for empowerment, a medium for healing, and a means to rewrite history on our own terms with the full truth.

I am Jayden Zora Rhodes, a Baltimore-based artist who seamlessly integrates graphic design, illustration, animation, and photography to create impactful visual narratives. With a strong commitment to celebrating my communities and honoring my clients' artistic goals, my work is defined by its rich use of illustration and imagery in addition to striking typographic elements. My proficiency in both digital and traditional techniques allows for the creation of high-quality pieces designed to leave a lasting visual impression.

I like to draw, paint and edit what I feel is beautiful.

“Sleeping with dogs” is a painting triptych series about the ways in which trauma, dissociation, and bad coping mechanisms can change one's perception of the self. Most of my paintings are done to explain how I'm feeling/ whatever I’m going through at the moment, and are formed around certain psychological ideas that I encounter in my training to become an art therapist. My main goal is emotional resonance, communicating in images things that can not be communicated in words. 

“My Sister in the Black Beret” acts as a mirror as it allows me to reflect within myself. I mostly create self-portraits, but this work allowed me to see myself through another individual. The red highlights the desire to be bold and take risks. The black attire focuses on embodying this authority and exuding strength. Self-discovery plays a role in my art as it's not about becoming someone else. My art is about standing in your own power and learning to embrace that.  

This oil-based and gouache artwork explores identity through the lens of permanent growth and change. Like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, we too, evolve, reflect, and adapt. Aging is an integral part of this journey of self-discovery. The composition features a black background with a mandala-inspired design, symbolizing the life cycle of the butterfly and the voyage of a ship. Both metaphors for personal journeys. In the upper right corner, a side-profile of a face looks toward the lower left, with a butterfly resting upon it, representing introspection and transformation. In the bottom left corner, a baby’s face gazes upward at the caterpillars, awed by their growth. These two expressions represent different stages of thought and self-awareness over time, yet both faces belong to the same person. This piece invites the viewer to reflect on their own growth, changes, and the marks life leaves upon us. It serves as a reminder that transformation is both necessary and challenging, but ultimately, it shapes who we are.

“Art should comfort the disturbed, and disturb the comfort” - Cesar A. Cruz