"Jolene"

22"h x 26"w

Artist's biography

Jimi Jones is a long-time resident of Cincinnati, Ohio. He earned a B.S. in Graphic Design from the University of Cincinnati in 1980 and later worked for Procter & Gamble for 27 years as an art director and display manager-retiring in 2007 to fully focus on his art.

Jones describes his role as an artist-storyteller. He aims for his work to inspire long-lasting impact through thoughtful, constructive creativity. Portraits that layer deeply personal and historical narratives are central to his practice-he uses painting as a way to organize his thoughts and share his identity with others.
He is one of the founding members of the Neo-Ancestralists, a collaborative group of African American artists formed in Cincinnati in the early 1990s. His artworks often address social justice, exploring themes like war, racism, religious conflict, and slavery, conveyed through vivid, narrative-rich paintings. He works across a range of styles-from intimate portraits to large mural-like canvases.
Jones' work has been exhibited in numerous solo and group shows across the Cincinnati area, including venues such as the Weston Art Gallery, Contemporary Arts Center, and the National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center. He has also exhibited at the Springfield Museum of Art, including in the "Faces & Stories" exhibit.