Meet Jaimie Monger

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jaimie Monger a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jaimie, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I believe that purpose isn’t just one thing you find once in life—it’s something that evolves. You have many purposes throughout your journey, and the key is discovering what your purpose is in the present moment. It starts with self-reflection. Take a step back, think about where you are, how you feel about your current path, and what you truly want next. Once you identify that, move forward with small, intentional steps.

As you reach each goal or milestone, it’s important to allow yourself to grow, shift focus, and pursue the next thing that excites or fulfills you. This cycle of reflecting, striving, and evolving continues until you feel you’ve expressed or experienced everything you’ve desired. For me, it’s about continually checking in with myself and letting my purpose transform as I do.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My name is Jaimie-Nicole Monger, and I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember—ever since I could hold a crayon. My work spans various mediums, including acrylic, oil, watercolor, pastel, charcoal, and digital media, though I’m primarily self-taught, with guidance from my aunt and art classes. I’ve always been drawn to abstract forms and portraits, using them to express deeply personal emotions and experiences.

What excites me most about my art is the process itself. I love experimenting with different techniques and letting the energy and mood of the moment guide my hand. It’s a form of pure expression, where I create not just for myself, but for others to connect with and interpret in their own way. I thrive on seeing people’s genuine reactions to my work, and I prefer not to explain it in detail—what matters most to me is the conversation that happens when someone connects with it on their terms.

I’m constantly evolving as an artist. Currently, I’m thrilled to be part of the Chromatic exhibition at Arrow Creative Gallery on October 3rd. This exhibit merges music and visual art to explore the complex rhythms of life through harmony, balance, contrast, and expression. It’s a celebration of how sound and color reflect the universal moods and truths of the human experience, and I’m honored to contribute my work to such a rich, full-bodied experience.

Additionally, I’ll be participating in the Black Arts + Wine Festival on October 5th, where I’ll be showcasing some of my latest pieces. It’s an exciting opportunity to connect with the community and celebrate Black art and culture in a vibrant, collaborative space.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three qualities that had the most impact on my artistic journey are resilience, self-awareness, and adaptability.

Resilience: As a Black, female, queer, and neurodivergent individual, my path has been anything but smooth. From facing discrimination in my architecture studies to navigating personal challenges, resilience has been essential. The ability to push forward, even when things seemed impossible, kept me grounded. My advice to those early in their journey: Embrace the setbacks as part of the process. They may be difficult, but they shape you in ways that success alone never could.

Self-awareness: One of the most important steps in my journey has been understanding myself—my limits, my strengths, and what truly inspires me. I’ve learned to be in tune with my emotions and mental state, which guides me in my work and life. For anyone starting out, take time to reflect on who you are and what drives you. This kind of self-reflection will help you make choices that align with your true self, instead of getting lost in what others expect of you.

Adaptability: Throughout my career, I’ve learned to be flexible, whether it’s switching between mediums or evolving my art to reflect my current state of mind. Being adaptable allowed me to grow as an artist and face new challenges with curiosity rather than fear. My advice: Don’t be afraid to pivot. Explore new mediums, try different techniques, or even change directions entirely. Adaptation leads to growth, both personally and creatively.

If I could offer any advice to those just starting their journey, it would be to focus on building these qualities over time. Stay patient with yourself, stay open to change, and most importantly, trust that the path you’re on—even if it’s not a straight line—is leading you where you’re meant to go.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’m definitely looking to connect with fellow artists and creatives to collaborate and build a supportive community. I believe that art thrives in collaboration, and I’m eager to find my tribe—people who share a passion for creating meaningful, impactful experiences through visual art, performance, or interdisciplinary work.

One project I’m especially excited about is something I’ve been developing called Alicia in Wonderland. While I can’t reveal too much about the concept just yet, I’m looking for creative collaborators who are interested in exploring themes of identity, transformation, and self-discovery, particularly from the perspective of underrepresented voices. Whether you’re a visual artist, performer, set designer, or someone with a unique skill set that could bring something fresh to the project, I’d love to connect and see how our ideas could align.

If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach out to me via email or social media, and we can explore how we might collaborate on this project or others. Let’s build something powerful together!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yeathatartist.square.site/
• Instagram: yeathatartist