Jourdan Barnes is a photographer, media and mixed media artist whose current work delves into portraiture to celebrate and honor the strength, courage, and wisdom of the black women and gay black men in his life. His series Noire Queen is a collection of intimate and deific portraits of his mother, sister, and close friends. Noire Queen was featured in YAYA’s 2017 Prospect. 4 satellite exhibit and, in October 2018, selected works were exhibited at the Lower Eastside Girls Club in Manhattan.  With this Creative Work Grant, Barnes is creating a second portrait series, Noire King, celebrating gay black men. Barnes graduated from Xavier University of New Orleans in 2015 with a BA in Fine Arts and a minor in Psychology. He lives in New Orleans and works as the community engagement specialist for the Louisiana Department of Health STD/HIV Program. Barnes also mentors high school artists as a studio teacher at YAYA.

Barnes participated in the YAYA young artists’ guild 2007-2011.

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