Bio
An accomplished, resilient and authentic creator with a proven track record in collaboration, cross-cultural team development, social entrepreneurship, mixed-media art, graphic design, organizational management, program development and publishing. Jessey Jansen is the Founder of Voice of Maasai music label and Artist/Owner of Little Lady Studio.
Artist Statement
For me, creating has always been a companion, allowing me to make sense of seemingly uncontrolled situations through controlled mediums. Following an emerging artist nomination at the Peninsula Art School, I began to use art as an awareness tool to stimulate civic dialogue and action on the issues of poverty and social mobility; my unique focus eventually led me to Tanzania where I founded Voice of Maasai music and media label.
I have always been inclined to pick up some paper to sketch, collage, write, it flows in my blood. Particularly significant to my developed artistic style are my college years when introduced to printmaking and graphic design. The unequaled value of printmaking is that the artist first just labors over the process and feels as though it is nothing but prepping and cleaning, but then as you start seeing results you gain a better understanding of technique, development, and execution of materials.
Printmaking allowed me to derive an appreciation for a thoughtful process; the interplay of symbols and text impressed on my mind a whispering potential for more as I recognized the significance of artists and designers in being influences and storytellers.
Portraying defining moments to challenging paradigms of social mobility, I invariably use art as my outlet, an expression of a search for myself, without boundaries, allowing revelations of my evolving view of the world. My medium may change, but the goal remains the same, to use art and design as a catalyst for positive social change.
Awards/Honors
2023 | American Package Design Winner, GDUSA, Irmaasai Lang
2023 | American Package Design Winner, GDUSA, Mama Africa
2022 | American Package Design Winner, GDUSA, Kalo Shore Album Art
2021 | American Package Design Winner, GDUSA, Custom Note Cards
2021 | American Package Design Winner, GDUSA, Gift Cards
2018 | Official Selection, Blue Whiskey International Film Fest (BWIFF), Embattled Land
2018 | American Package Design Winner, GDUSA, Voice of Maasai Marketing Booklet
2018 | Official Selection, Green Bay Film Festival, Embattled Land
2017 | American Package Design Winner, GDUSA
2016 | Best Jazz/World AMI Music Award, Artprize8, Grand Rapids MI
2015 | Brand Award, Green Festival, Los Angeles California USA
2014 | American Package Design Award, Graphic Design USA
2014 | Kickstarter Crowdfunding Campaign
2013 | American Package Design Award, Graphic Design USA
2012 | American Package Design Award, Graphic Design USA
2011 | Best of Show Nominee, National Stationery Show, New York NY USA
2011 | Bronze Award, Neenah Paper Paperworks
2010 | Silver Award, Neenah Paper Paperworks
2009 | Best of Show, Artwalk, Bolingbrook Illinois USA
2008 | Selected Artist in Residence, Alverno College, Milwaukee Wisconsin USA
2006 | Designer of the Month, Creative Public
2006 | Selected Emerging Artist, Peninsula Art School, Fish Creek Wisconsin USA
2005 | Outstanding Achievement in Web Development, Web Marketing Association
Education
2022 Non-Profit Leadership and Management Certification at ACC
2019 NOLS Women’s Leadership Course
2013 Nikon Photography School
2002 Small Business Development Workshop, UW Madison School of Business
2001 Bachelor Degree in Communications in the Arts from University of Green Bay WI
Professional Registries/Affiliations
Artwork Archive, Profile
Art in Embassies, Registry
Foundwork, Profile
Indiewalls, Member
SeeMe, Member
Women In Music, Member
Music Managers Forum, Member
Read more about how I founded VOM here
