Meet Briana Janeé

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Briana Janeé. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Briana, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Developing my confident and self-esteem comes from surrounding myself with my loving family and friends who inspire me, hold me accountable to my goals, and make room for me to be authentically me. Since a young girl art and food have been my passion. I grew up on the Westside of Chicago in the Austin neighborhood and as a kid I remember being in my grandmother’s salon drawing to pass time- creating portraits of her clients or at home in my parents kitchen baking a cake with my mom to surprise my dad. I’m always aspiring to find the joy in everything and make it a responsibility to bring joy with me everywhere I go. Now, don’t get me wrong, this is an everyday practice, especially when like many it can be a challenge to nurture a balanced lifestyle that supports your mental health. So I try to focus on just doing me and doing the things that bring happiness to my life, including: investing in my physical and mental health, cultivating spaces for creative expression, and I prioritize praying about everything to maintain gratitude and confidence in my decisions.

Today I am proud to be a graduate from Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in illustration and visual communications and Public Allies alumni where I developed community economic development skills. As an illustrator I enjoy creating whimsical, vibrant, light-hearted imagery that reflects my persona and attitude towards life. Meanwhile, as an activist, I made it a goal to create works of art and curate experiences that have an impact on society. My passions and creativity are driven by being a Black artist and Chicago native from the a west-side. To me, to be an artist and an activist requires you to have confidence in showing people your authentic self and standing firm in your beliefs in the hopes it inspire others to do the same.

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

I’m the owner of a boutique design studio, called Briana Janeé Arts. Through BJA I align art and culture with wellness by providing digital marketing and fine arts services to nonprofits, small businesses, and collaborating with artists who share the similar passions. I consider myself an agent of peace and growth in Chicago especially in my community, where I focus on restorative healing through food, art, community solidarity, and Black cultural enrichment.
One project that I’m most excited about is Color Expressions: Abstract Healing Painting Workshops. Health does not always come from medicine. Most of the time it comes from peace of mind, peace in the heart, and peace in the soul. Its source is love and laughter. Healing starts when you begin to turn your pain into something beautiful. Color Expressions is meant to help people learn a creative expression skill to strengthen relationship with self and others by supporting them through exploring challenging emotions, connect with self, and build community.

Aside from being an artist, I am also on a mission as an activist to uplift my hood, Austin-Chicago, by creating and nurturing opportunities for community self-reliance. Together we’re reclaiming the cooperative roots in the Black community. 2017 I joined the food justice movement resulting in leading a grocery cooperative called the Austin Community Food Co-op. The co-op will empower and uplift the Austin community by providing access to local food through a member-owned grocery store and educational opportunities to learn about food literacy.

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?

Daring to dream beyond myself and practicing resilience has been crucial to this journey. So has being a continuous learner.

Throughout my journey, especially when facing challenges and overcoming setbacks, resilience has been key. It’s about staying persistent and adaptive, even when things don’t go as planned. The ability to envision something greater than my current reality has been instrumental. Whether it was imagining the impact of the grocery co-op in the Austin community or creating an art program that felt bigger than just personal success, this quality helped me remain focused on long-term influence. I’ve also found that continuous learning—whether through formal education, mentorship, or simply being curious—has kept me adaptable and informed. Being and entrepreneur requires you to constantly seek new knowledge.

My advice for those early in your journeys, start by cultivating a sense of purpose beyond immediate outcomes. Ask yourself, “How can my work contribute to something larger?” This mindset will fuel your passion and drive in ways that personal success alone cannot.
Build resilience by embracing failure as part of growth. Every obstacle teaches something valuable, so view challenges not as roadblocks but as stepping stones to your goals. Surround yourself with people who uplift you and lean into that support when things get tough.
Develop a mindset of curiosity. Don’t hesitate to learn from those around you or dive into new areas, even when they seem unrelated at first. Knowledge compounds, and the more you learn, the better equipped you’ll be to solve problems creatively.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

For the Color Expressions workshop, I want to look for collaborators who align with the themes of creativity, community engagement, and personal development. Group of the following looking to collaborate consider reaching out to me by visiting my website at brianajaneearts.com/contact

Local Art Institutions and Galleries that are committed to making art accessible.

Nonprofits Focused on Youth or Underserved Communities

Mental Health and Wellness Organizations

Cultural and Educational Programs

Local Businesses or companies looking to offer creative team-building activities or wellness programs

Artists’ Cooperatives or Arts Foundations

Contact Info:

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