Jernicya Onyekwelu

  • Born: Murfreesboro (Rutherford County)
  • Active: Nashville (Davidson County)
  • Region: Middle
  • Mediums: Ceramics
  • Instagram | Etsy

Jernicya Onyekwelu

“My objective is to produce artwork that is commonly inspired by my desire to represent the global majority specifically of African American and African descendants and ethnic identities. Being a Black woman, I’ve always enjoyed adding pieces of my identity into any artwork that I create through concentrating on portraits that reflect strong Black women and men. I wanted to play with traditional African & African American women’s hairstylist, style, fashion, and characteristics that embody power, culture, beauty, and strength of Black people.

Being born in the Boro and seeing the transition it’s undergone takes my breath away. So grateful to still live my childhood dream of sharing the beauty of middle Tennessee through my eyes.”

Based in Murfreesboro, and raised in Memphis, Jernicya Onyekwelu is a 21-year old traditional artist and recent graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in visual arts who rises to create stylish contemporary artwork that embodies African and African American culture through color, textiles, fashion, culture, and identity.


Crafting Blackness Exhibitions

Black Bodies Making Form

MTSU Black Bodies Making Form

Reclaiming