 I came upon Jaleesa Johnston’s art while I was studying Afrofuturism, a cultural philosophy and aesthetic that explores the intersection of African culture with modern futurism. Afrofuturism combines elements of science fiction, fantasy, and magic to critique the present-day dilemmas of black people and to interrogate and re-examine historical events. Jaleesa’s art brings a stark, energetic perspective to our cultural conversation about race, and we can’t talk about the future without candidly examining who gets to live in that future.
Jaleesa integrates sculpture, collage, and dance into installations and performances, many of which are Afrofuturist in their exploration of Black women’s bodies. I sat down with Jaleesa to ask her about art and identity, and two specific pieces of hers: a contemporary dance called Rise and Fall, and a photo collage series called Between Contact. You can hear our full interview here and see more of her work here.
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