between rural and urban life. The urban component of his artwork is a result of growing up in New Orleans where he spent a copious amount of time in an African American church with his maternal grandparents and mother where he started playing music and singing in the choir. His family grew up in the 7 th ward where they were involved with the second line and carnival Indian traditions. The combination of visual and musical artistry around him forged a deep impression that is seen in virtually all his artwork. His work induces all the emotions of his ancestors living in diverse environments from Edgard, St. Francisville, the Himalaya Planation in Napoleonville, and New Orleans. Pierre often describes his work as urban/rural contrast melting global cultures inspired from hip hop/jazz, gospel, the old delta blues, and Mother Nature.
Other influences play a role in his artistry, specifically attending New Orleans public schools in the 1980’s with underfunding, violence, for self-protection Jamar Pierre found himself drawn to visual expressing himself as an outlet for expressing himself to manage the stress of the violence at his school. This visual expression took form in graffiti art as it gave him a voice as a young black man growing up in New Orleans. While graffiti was not sustantiable at that time he eventually decided to become a professional artist and muralist. Pierre enrolled in fine art and philosophy classes at Southern University New Orleans and discovered that he has a passion beyond aerosol as a medium, but also more traditional mediums studying figure drawing, printmaking, painting and sculpture. He now teaches all these mediums to underserved students throughout New Orleans, and beyond.
Through his career as a fine artist and muralist, Pierre purposely developed relationship with mentors that continue to provide a rich cultural context about growing up African American in Louisiana. These mentors serve to inspire his drive and commitment to giving back to his community creating banners and murals for the Tambourine and Fan Club, the Congo Square Jazz Fest.
Pierre opened up one of the few African American art galleries on Magazine Street in New Orleans with the intention to break stereotypes of what being a decedent of slaves can look like., he was commissioned to create artwork for House of Dereon for the Knowles family, Essence Festival, St. Peter Claver. Hurricane Katrina
played a pivotal role in making a conscious decision to ensure the culture of the city of New Orleans was not only preserved but passed on.
Vitality is embedded in each of his strokes, his methodical texturing and juxtaposition of color. Pierre is a student of human emotion, and he seeks to press our buttons, pluck our heartstrings, and play upon us as if we were a fiddle or pipe through the emotionally charged, powerful visual imagery of his artwork.
Pierre was recognized by 2012 by Gambit, appearing in their ‘Forty Under 40’ edition, highlighting New Orleanians under the age of forty that have made significant contributions to the New Orleans area. Pierre has won The National Conference of Artists (NCA) “Most Outstanding Artist of the Year” award, and the
“Sweet Arts Award” from the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center.
Chosen by the City of New as the official 2018 Tricentennial artist, J. Pierre created the Tricentennial “Resilience” giclee print. Also, commissioned by New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation in 2018, to design and create a wall mural with a historical theme titled “One Time in New Orleans” - located in the
Bywater Art Garden.
In 2018, Longue Vue House and Gardens awarded J. Pierre a year-long residency.
As founder of New Orleans International Muralists, LLC-[NOIM], J. Pierre is currently creating and developing a mile-long mural along the Tchoupitoulas Street floodwall in New Orleans.
