Andie Jairam

Andie Jairam is a professional freelance artist currently based in Georgia. He graduated with a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Buffalo. He primarily conceives his art in the mediums of printmaking, drawing, murals, and sculptural pieces. His work explores elements of Afro-futurism and various scenes from his knowledge of the African diaspora.

Jairam began his art career at Morehouse College, where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Studio Art degree. “During my tenure at Morehouse College, I fell in love with the art of printmaking and drawing. I took these passions to New York and honed my art skills” states Jairam.[i]

During his tenure at the University at Buffalo, Jairam extensively researched Afro-futurism, a form of art that explores combining the culture of the African diaspora with technology and science fiction. During his tutelage in Buffalo, he refined his practice, creating new work that expresses this artform through mural and prints.

As an extension of his art, Jairam has created his own graphic novel, which he is developing into a full-length book titled “Kweku Anansi Fables”.

When describing this work, Jairam states, “my relief prints, clothing, costumes, and sculptural pieces depict a world through storytelling where Anansi the Spider's ancestors live in a futuristic society. This parallel dimension begins with West Africa's own indigenous African superhero Kweku Anansi. His secret alter ego is Amir Kweku, a brilliant geneticist living in the village of Akuu in the year 2035. Amir has developed a technique infusing spider's DNA with nano technology to create cybernetic spiders. Amir is accidentally bitten by a group of cybernetic spiders causing him to gain superpowers. It is up to this new superhero to go out into his village and defeat the power and might of the great evil spirit Osa from stealing stories from the history books before they cease to exist.”[ii]

Utilizing his vast knowledge of the African diaspora, Jairam has also taught youths and adults the transformative power of art. He has been featured in many group exhibitions at various Buffalo-based exhibitions that include the Buffalo Center for the Arts and Technology, Dreamland Art Gallery, a solo exhibition [Kweku Anansi Fables], at the El Museo Gallery, along with an extensive list of art galleries and shows around the Atlanta, Georgia area.

Along with his abundant exhibition exposure, Jairam has also completed art commissions in Western New York, including large scale mural commissions for Afro-Centric Love. These works were at the behest of the El Museo Gallery and Buffalo Arts Studio.

Jairam has also applied to shows, residencies, and new art collaborations to showcase his work internationally. He has been attributed numerous awards, publications, grants, scholarships, with national and international exposure.[iii]  Some of these include the 2018 Robert G. & Carol L. Morris Arts Scholarship and Fellowship as well as the 2018 Mark Diamond Research Grant while attending the University of Buffalo, along with the International Miniprint Triennial Touring Exhibition at Tama Art University located in Sapporo, Japan.

One of his more recent endeavors includes an art showing at Hapeville Maker Space in Georgia, titled 2020 Encore Afro Arts, focusing on several different styles of black art. His latest venture was with a juried show and art competition that took place in his hometown of Jonesboro, Georgia located at the Art Clayton Gallery. Jairam looks to “make a forever imprint on the world with my art”, aspiring to be remembered and revered like his art idols of Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Jean-Michel Basquiat.[iv]

Jairam’s work has been featured at the Burchfield Penney Art Center in the summer/fall of 2021 as part of the Artists Up Front series.

More information on Jairam and his work can be found on his website.