Gallery
The Black School (TBS) uses art and activism to transform social realities through Black Love, healing, and self-determination. It is a Black-Centered experimental art school teaching BIPoC and ally students to be agents of change through art and design programming based on radical African diasporic histories.
We are thrilled to be working with New Orleans-born and based artist Sheleen Jones on our first public art sculpture and bike rack, which will open with the new Black Schoolhouse. GRIOT takes inspiration from the historic Black metal smithing legacy in New Orleans, tracing its roots to the artistry of free Black metalsmiths, who utilized West African iconography to pass covert messages to their fellow Africans. The work of Free Black metalsmiths is an integral aspect of New Orleans culture to this day.
The bike rack will be built in a style inspired by shotgun homes, referencing the history of Haitian and Caribbean influences in New Orleans architecture and working-class communities. The sculpture will be topped by figures of a man and woman engaged in jubilant dance, referencing the joyful resistance of Black communities in New Orleans.
This public art project is part of our vision for a Black Schoolhouse, a community arts center being constructed in the 7th Ward, with a target audience of the walkable residential community and the broader creative community of the wider city. As TBS’s inaugural public art sculpture, this work will introduce our community to our emerging curatorial programs made possible with the construction of the building. It will be a highly visible signal of the new deeply intentional and socially minded curatorial offerings to come.
Sheleen Jones is a renowned visual artist and educator from New Orleans, celebrated for her exceptional talent in sculpture. An alumna of Xavier University and Florida State University, Jones has spent over 20 years teaching more than a thousand students at various institutions, including the New Orleans Public School Talented in the Visual Arts and Southern University of New Orleans. She currently teaches at Xavier University of Louisiana. Known for her mastery of figurative art, Jones creates sculptures that capture the humanity and beauty of her subjects, making her work relatable and accessible to a wide audience. Her impressive portfolio includes numerous public art commissions, with her sculptures displayed throughout the New Orleans Metropolitan area and across Louisiana. Notable works include "Chief Allison Tootie Montana" at Armstrong National Park and "Forever a Crusader" honoring Rev. Avery C. Alexander.
Photo credit: LOT-EK rendering of The Black School House, 2024
Kayla Gant is a Biology Pre-Med student-athlete at Xavier University of Louisiana, where she maintains a 3.65 GPA. Her academic achievements include making the Dean’s List and being an active member of the XULA TRIO McNair Scholars Program and Biomedical Honor Corps. While maintaining her commitment to medicine and education Kayla works with Sheleen Jones as her art assistant, assisting her with art pieces and communication.
