Meet Jahmane West

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

Jahmane, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

I keep my creativity alive by exploring various methods and mediums to create. Through my visual art practice, I’ve developed multiple collections that enable me to express myself without feeling confined to a single style. This is important for me as an artist to overcome times when I may feel stuck or uninspired.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My artistic journey began in the early eighties when I was first introduced to what has come to be known as Hip-Hop culture. As Hip-Hop evolved from the Bronx NY, my close proximity to its birthplace immersed me in the culture in real time. Inspired by movies like Wild Style and Beat Street, I took to graffiti as a means of self-expression and never looked back. Over the years, I’ve studied and practiced multiple mediums of art; however, graffiti was my introduction into the art world. As a young graffiti writer, I was often commissioned to decorate articles of clothing with graffiti-inspired designs, which ultimately led to the founding of a clothing brand named KULTJAH with my brother and several partners, which is still thriving to this day.

Currently, I maintain a balance between my visual art practice and my lifestyle clothing brand. Each endeavor is equally exciting, with its own unique challenges, but constant evolution keeps me passionate in both pursuits.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are perseverance, vision and practice. I feel the ability to persevere through hard times is detrimental, while have the foresight and vision to make your goals a reality is just as important. Thirdly, practice and mastery of your craft will ensure you can capitalize on opportunities when they are presented.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The most important thing my mother has done for me is allow me the space to explore as an artist. Especially in my early years, as a young black man, my pursuit as an artist in many ways was counterproductive to my survival in American society; however, her unyielding support helped nourish my passions until this day.

Contact Info:

• Website: artofjahmane,com
• Instagram: @artofjahmane
• Facebook: jahmane artz

Image Credits

John Kovalsky