Miami-born, Brazilian-American artist Jessica Barbosa earned her BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute, where she developed a strong foundation in fiber and sculpture. Her work explores themes of vulnerability, longing, and the tension between personal and societal pressures. Through tactile processes like weaving, sewing, felting, and beading, she creates immersive works that invite moments of pause and connection. Rooted in traditional craft, her practice values time honored techniques while maintaining a constant push toward discovery and reinvention. Barbosa has received recognition through awards including the Penland School of Craft’s Samuel A. Almon Scholarship, the Susan Lordi-Marker Award, and her design was selected for the Zhaner Student Design Competition. She also participated in the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts’ Work-Study Program, which further deepened her commitment to craft and artistic growth.
My art practice is a way of processing the tension between external pressures, such as beauty standards, consumerism, and financial instability, and the internal conflicts they create, like the longing for simplicity, security, and a meaningful existence. I am drawn to the challenge of translating these complex emotions, memories, and observations into tangible forms. The act of creating becomes a tool for living deliberately, a process of putting care into every decision, finding meaning in the smallest of details, and honoring the materials I work with. Through tactile processes like weaving, sewing, felting, and beading, I create spaces for reflection that invite the viewer to slow down and find moments of clarity and connection.
I see my work as a balance of opposites. Traditional techniques merge with unexpected textures, personal emotions intersect with broader societal themes, and delicate details find harmony in bold forms. This synthesis reflects my own restless nature and desire to resolve contradictions and create completeness in both my art and life. I’m drawn to processes that require patience and care, using them as a way to channel my indecisiveness into something steady and intentional.
The materials and objects I choose speak to the paradox of seeking stability while navigating the pressures of consumerism and creative compromise. My work becomes a dialogue, questioning how we can live authentically in a world that often feels fragmented. Through it, I hope to create moments of solace and connection; spaces where viewers can find clarity and a sense of shared understanding.
Ultimately, my practice is about bringing moments of solace and connection to the viewer, offering a break from the noise of everyday life. Through my work, I aim to transform individual experiences into collective encounters, where viewers can find their own reflections. Looking ahead, I envision expanding my practice beyond the studio, into community projects and collaborative environments that use art to foster a sense of belonging and create shared spaces for introspection.