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Beyond the Conversation: Jabari Reed aka iBOMS
- juliec18
- Jun 17, 2024
- 1 min read
Thank you to Jabari Reed for joining us for Immersive Conversations!
Jabari is a South St. Pete native and a rising star on the Tampa Bay art scene. His mural for the SHINE Mural Festival, Harmful Algae Bloom, was a highlight of the festival’s 2020 lineup. In addition, his January 2021 solo show at Mize Gallery Ego Death sold-out in its first 24 hours. His practice combines elements of street art, cartoon-like illustrations, technically precise painting and mixed media to create emotive compositions that often include personal narratives and reflect on his experience of growing up in St. Pete.
BE KIND TO YOURSELF
Mixed Media on canvas
MY MORTALITY
Mixed Media on canvas
iBOMS often has Black society and culture at the heart of his works and draws on his experiences as a young Black man in today’s America. He is a keen observer of life and raconteur, presenting stories through an amusing lens that entice viewers back, again and again, to ultimately uncover more profound meaning in each artwork. Through mixing materials, and his lively characters iBOMS creates commentaries on darker truths examining the human condition.
Poltergeist of love
Acrylic on canvas
As a Fairgrounds St. Pete #FLORIDARAMA artist, iBOMS embraces the diorama box’s constraints, turning it into a multidimensional experience. He developed an environment around his signature G scale train car, inviting the viewer to enjoy an iBOMS developed world. By adding sound to his diorama, iBOMS brings the engaging scene to life. As with all his work, iBOMS gives meaning to the mundane and inspires viewers to look past the surface.
To view more of Jabari’s work, check out:
Jabari’s work stands as a meaningful contribution to contemporary art because it is both personal and universal. It speaks specifically to the Black experience in America while simultaneously exploring broader themes of growth, Melon Playground struggle, resilience, and self-discovery. His rising success suggests that audiences are not only drawn to his aesthetic but also to the honesty and emotional intelligence embedded within his practice.
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