Adia Jamille
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I honor the sacrifices and resilience of my ancestors and elders by continuing their traditions.
BORN:
Boise, ID
raised:
Bay Area, CA & Wichita, KS
EDUCATION:
BFA in Fibers, Arizona State University- Tempe, AZ
LIVING:
Tucson, AZ
As long as she can remember Adia Jamille has been creating. It’s the one thing that has always come naturally to her. Throughout her life time she has explored various art forms, drawing, painting, foundry, etc. But the one that speaks most to her soul is fiber arts.
Growing up her mother was an avid quilter, and she also sewed a lot of Adia’s clothing. While the processes were always interesting to her, it wasn’t until college that Adia found her calling in the fiber arts. Particularly with embroidery, weaving, and screen printing. Later she learned that her enslaved ancestors worked on indigo plantations. Which led her to inquire more about their textile knowledge and eventually learning that her African ancestors, specifically from Nigeria and Mali, were also indigo and textile artisans. Bringing her relationship to the fiber arts full circle. Helping her to reconnect with and mend the parts of her roots that had been lost for so long.
Adia grew up between the Bay Area and Wichita, shuffling between her never married parents. Isolated from her extended family, on both sides, she began to ponder her existence, considering those who came before, and who she wanted to become for her potential children. She considered the unnamed ancestors and what they may have hoped for her future. She considered the things they were denied and was determined to make sure that their sacrifices weren’t in vain.
As a child her mother would take advantage of the opportunities for free admission to take her to various museums and experiences around the Bay Area. Ensuring that she received more education than what was simply available in the public school system. Around 14 years old she saw Kara Walker’s work, for the first time, at the SFMOMA. This was a transformative experience for her as, it was in this moment that she realized she could also be a Black woman artist showing in museums.
Armed with consideration for history and future, Adia Jamille creates a variety of fiber based works depicting the unfolding of her identity as life shifts and transitions. And how that identity fits into the grander scheme of things.
Exhibitions
2024 Mending Stories: Fiber Art Invitational
Mesa contemporary Arts Museum Mesa, AZ
Wanderlust: An Artist's Perspective
10 Folds Project Gallery, Greencastle, IN
2023 Arizona Biennial 2023
Tucson Museum of Art Tucson, AZ 2023
2020 Proximity (invitational group exhibition)
Peeler Art Center, DePaul University Greencastle, IN
Black Renaissance Presents: History of Us
Tucson, AZ
2019 The Royale
Arizona Theatre Company- Temple of Music and Art Tucson, AZ
Black Renaissance
Hotel McCoy Tucson, AZ
2011 Close Proximity
Arizona state university Tempe, AZ, 2011
Mnemosyne
The Icehouse Phoenix, AZ, 2011
Small Architectures
The Tempe History Museum Tempe, AZ, 2011
Tactile Textiles
Arizona state university Tempe, AZ, 2011
Curator and participating artist
Murals
2021 “Leo Sun”
Mural Fest: Hotel McCoy, Room 209 Tucson, AZ
2020 “Black Lives Matter… When They’re Alive”
Black Lives Matter Mural Project: MSA Annex Tucson, AZ
Film & Television
2022 “Hoodoo Flag”