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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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