Meet JJ

My name is JJ (they/them) and I am an artist, activist, and adventurer. I am currently a Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies PhD candidate researching the roles of comics and zines in the lives of disabled people. 

For as long as I remember, I was surrounded by people who taught me the importance of art as a socially transformative tool. One of my most formative experiences was traveling in a bus-turned-art studio with the coolest bunch of folks out there. We got to bring the joy of art and recycling to thousands of children. The message was clear–we are all artists. Our supplies don’t need to be fancy. With a little creativity we can turn the everyday objects around our home and work into beautiful creations.

My love for adventure (or more specifically ad-VAN-ture) began later in life. Feeling stuck and increasingly desperate for a change in my life, I sunk every dime I had into an old minivan. I went through a great deal of hardship in that time, but my van offered feelings of independence and strength that ultimately changed my life.

I am beginning a new phase of life where these passions can combine into something beautiful. I’ve upgraded from my minivan into a not-so-mini van and am traveling to teach art classes, vend at festivals, and spread messages of love and hope along the way. Hop in my digital passenger seat, buckle up, and enjoy the journey with me.

With all my love,

JJ