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Jocelyn James

Tucson, United States

Born in Mesa, Arizona in 2003, Jocelyn grew up making art and participating in extracurriculars like gymnastics and dance. Throughout her childhood, Jocelyn was often the only Black child in the room. She often found comfort in the arts, and expressing herself through them. Using collage materials and techniques, Jocelyn creates pieces that open up conversations about experiences that are particular to being Black in America. Jocelyn grew up feeling like the outcast, always too different. Her parents and friends showed her that being Black is something to celebrate, something to be proud of. Even without a large community, she found support from family, friends, and class peers. Her work reflects the joys and the hardships of being labeled as an African American.

Jocelyn James is a multimedia artist studying Art and Visual Culture Education at the University of Arizona. Born in Mesa in 2003, she grew up making art while pursuing gymnastics and dance, often as the only Black child in the room. Her collage‑based practice reflects on being a woman of colour in predominantly white spaces and explores how those experiences have shaped her life. Jocelyn uses layered materials to open conversations about perceptions of Black people in today’s society and her own lived experiences. Through her work, she embraces her identity as a source of pride and inspiration.

Artist Interview


Q: Your work is a reflection of your experience as a Black woman growing up in predominantly white spaces. How do you approach translating those deeply personal experiences into your art, and what role does collage play in this process?


A: Collage art holds memories for me. All of the materials that I use are found images often from second hand stores. I intend to cherish what is left of the books, and hope to give the images new life, a new narrative. Growing up as a young Black girl, I learned to cherish the parts of life that I enjoyed, selecting what would define me, and what outside sources would influence me. Collage creates interesting relationships between my subjects (myself or other individuals) and scenarios they are likely to experience.


Q: Collage is such a unique and versatile medium. What drew you to the art form as your primary form of expression, and are there specific materials or images that you gravitate toward when creating a piece?


A: For me collage is a puzzle waiting to be solved. I enjoy piecing together a narrative with unrelated materials. As a child I enjoyed people watching, I was always in a state of sonder. I am fascinated by individuals and curious about their upbringing. Every personality is an amalgamation of individual experiences and perceptions of the world around us. I am often drawn to images that bring me comfort or remind me of something I am familiar with. As a child I perceived the world with a lot of color, and am often drawn to more saturated images.


Q: As someone studying Art and Visual Culture, how do you see your art shaping future conversations about race, identity, and perception in society? Have these themes evolved for you as you've progressed in your studies?

Interview
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