Projects & Events
Doula Interview with NPR | Jan. 2024
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Warren Village Mural | Oct. 2023
Soul2Soul Sisters commissioned myself, Aisha Rene, Faatma Be One and Holly Kai Hurd to paint a mural over at Warren Village. Faatma and Holly designed the mural and Aisha and myself painted it. This was the first time we split up the duties of the mural in this way and it worked out beautifully. It was such a joy to see the residents come in and out and see us adding this pop of sunshine, love and community into their space. Watch below for a progression video.
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Colfax Canvas - Mango House | Sep. 2023
I was one of 10 artists chosen to participate in this year's Colfax Canvas Mural Festival. I had the lovely opportunity to paint along artists (and now friends) Sandra Fettingis, James Brutus and Tessa Fuqua. If you don't know about Mango House it is an amazing resource in our communtiy. This building houses a medical office, dental office and a plethora of resturaunts and small businesses all owned by immigrants and people of color. Watch below for a progression video.
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Adorned In Affirmation Workshop | June 2023
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Lactation Room Mural | Jan 2023
I was commissioned by Mama Bird Maternity Wellness Spa to paint a mural in their new lactation room. This was extra special timing because a couple of weeks prior had I completed my first Birth Doula certification program over at Allo Doula Academy. I feel so blessed to paint such meaningful pieces in sacred spaces. Alhumdulillah. Watch the video above to see the process!
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Artist Feature at NorthWestern University, Chicago | Nov. 2022
If you are in the Chicago area come out this weekend to attend this event.
Northwestern University - Lutkin Hall
700 University Pl, Evanston, IL 60208
7:00pm
Can't wait to see you all!
Featured in Bronze Magazine Online | November 2022
I was able to discuss the deeper meaning behind my "Blood Moon" painting with journalist LaToya Bicko. Bronze Magazine Online republished this article, it was originally published on The Maverick Observer. I really enjoyed sharing my inspiration behind this painting. It's critical that we remove the stigma associated with menstruation and replace it with truth and beauty. To read the full article click HERE.
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Muslim Family Services Fundraiser Dinner | Oct. 2022
Workshop w/Collective Healing Through Art Sep. 2022
I have the honor of facilitating this workshop for the public! Collective Healing Through Art is really out here doing God's work by utilizing art as a healing tool and making it accesible to people that normally would not have the opportunity. Please come out to create with me on September 17th! I know we will have so much fun and I cannot wait to see what everyone creates. Register ASAP as space is limited.
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Mural at Hiawatha Davis Rec Center September 2022
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MILA Family Retreat September 2022
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Commissioned Storefront Sign for Brother Jeff's Cultural Center June 2022
Brother Jeff asked me to paint a sign for his cultural center just in time for the Denver Juneteenth Celebration and y'all, I felt soooo honored! If you're from Denver/5 points you already know the significance that his spot holds. It was one of the first places that I saw beautiful Black peopled gathered doing what we do. Feels incredible to have a little piece of my heART on the historical Welton St. Alhumdulillah. For a time-lapse of the process watch the video below.
For more info about Brother Jeff's Cultural Center please visit www.brotherjeff.com
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Flagpole Project w/Art Student's League of Denver June 2022
The Art Student's League of Denver put out a call for artists to create flags that are representative of the history and culture of Denver and Colorado as a whole. I ended up creating two flag designs, although they differ in appearance, the meanings are the same. I wanted to highlight the cultures of the Black, Native and Chicano peoples.
For the first flag, the serape fabric is for my Mexian siblings. Serape is traditionally a woven blanket that is very popular in their tradition. As we know much of Mexico was stolen by the settlers and America will always be their land. The mudcloth pattern is representative of Black/African Americans. Mudcloth is from Mali, a west African country. West africa is where most of my people where stolen from. Mudcloth is made by fermenting mud then using that to stain the cloth. The symbols on the cloth vary and each hold a story of their own depending on who made the cloth. Although this is not our original land we now share in the deep troubling and rich history of this soil. The Thunderbird is for my Native siblings who are indigenous to Turtle Island. The Thunderbird is found amongst many indigenous tribes such as, but not limited to, the Cherokee and Arapahoe. And we all know of their genocide that took place and continues to take place here. The cowrie shell is native to the west coast of Africa but through trade the shells have traveled through the Americas and have become a part of Native clothing and art as wel. I felt this was an important symbol that ties us all together.
On the second flag instead of mudcloth for my people, I used the RBG flag. "The banner, with its horizontal red, black and green stripes, was adopted by the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) at a conference in New York City in 1920. For several years leading up to that point, Marcus Garvey, the UNIA's leader, talked about the need for a black liberation flag." Quote via On Flag Day, Remembering The Red Black & Green.
To read more about the Flagpole Project and see what the other artists are working on visit Art Student's League of Denver by clicking HERE.
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Mural For Mama Bird Maternity Sep. 2021
I was asked to create a mural for Mama Bird Maternity and Wellness Spa representing the birth work community. During the initial process of deciding on what to paint, one of the yoga instructors from this space and a dear friend of the owner suddenly passes away. So instead, she asked me to paint a mural in remembrance of her.
2nd Annual Black Love Mural Festivel Summer 2021
I was invited back again to participate in the Black Love Mural Festival for the summer of 2021 The festival runs through August 1, 2021. Below I am pictured standing with my completed mural titled "Flower of Life." The Arabic in the center of the flower says, "Allah," which means God in Arabic.
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Innervisions Collective Show @ BRDG PROJECT GALLERY June 2021
For the month of June, the Innervisions Collective that I am apart of, has been invited to show our collective body of work. All of the artwork is centered around heart work. Below is the painting I completed for the show, "Blood Moon."
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HOPE TANK WINDOW MURAL APRIL 2021
Jannah Farooque painting the window mural. (Photo by Kathryn Scott, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Erika Righter inside her shop.
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Poetry Feature at University of Denver March 2021
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THE MUSEUM FOR BLACK GIRLS MARCH 2021
I was invited to create a mural for The Museum For Black Girls. Watch the segment below from CBS4 to hear more about this interactive museum experience and to catch a peek of my mural.
The mural I painted below on the right. The museum will be up through August of 2021.
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BLACK LOVE MURAL FESTIVAL SUMMER 2020
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RECOVERY CARDS PROJECT SEP. 2019
I had the honor of creating card designs for the Recovery Cards Project through the Lift The Label Campaign. Our story was featured on CBS News4, September of 2019. Watch the video below for more details.
(Pictured Below) Recovery Cards Project artist Jannah Farooque, Tabitha Aaron; Governor Polis; Colorado Poet Laureate Bobby LeFebre; CDHS Executive Director Michelle Barnes; and Kaley Jones, who has been in recovery from opioid use disorder for nine years.
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AWARDED PUBLIC ART GRANT JULY 2019
I am part of the InnerVisions Art Collective, we create stories through art to get free! Summer of 2019 we were awarded a grant to paint a mural through the Denver Urban Arts Funds. Check out a short article from Westword for a few more details on all the grantees.
Below Olivia Lucero and Holly Kai Hurd of the InnerVisions Collective, work on our mural at Akente Express, located at 919 Park Ave. West, Denver, CO 80205.
(Below) Faatma Be One, Holly Kai Hurd and Jannah Farooque (with new baby in tow) work on mural located at Akente Express of Denver.
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BOULDER COUNTY ARTIST FEATURE SEP. 2018
September of 2018 I was the featured artist for Boulder County's 30th annual Multicultural Awards Banquet. That month I was also a guest on KGNU - PoCo in BoCo (People of Color in Boulder County). I was able to share some insight into my art journey and my inspiration behind my work. Click HERE to read the article and listen to the radio show.
Pictured above (from left to right) Nikhil Mankekar, co-host, Maciel leon , CAP Division Manager for Community Action Programs , Myself and co-host Tracey Jones.
Original painting "Beating" is available for purchase. If interested you may use the "Contact" page or email directly at [email protected] .