Painting a Path Forward
Amani Jordan is a multidisciplinary artist from San Jose, California, whose creative practice is inspired by 20th-century Fauvism, which uses intense, non-naturalistic color to express emotion rather than describe reality. She pairs this approach with her own multicultural background, using oil and acrylic paints to reference the colors of textiles from Mexican and African cultures. Her paintings exaggerate saturation and hue to create expressive compositions that explore themes of identity, family, and cultural richness.
Before painting, Jordan was interested in fashion design and kept sketchbooks full of design concepts. Driven to improve those sketches, Jordan overcame the discouragement of a counselor who suggested exploring interests beyond art. She began teaching herself, eventually enrolled in a beginner drawing class, and then advanced to earn high marks in an AP art studio course. It was collaboration with fellow artists and her instructor’s guidance that solidified Jordan’s commitment to pursue art in college.
“My professors provided the support for me to grow into the artist I am today.” – Amani Jordan
Jordan graduated from the West Valley College Cilker School of Art and Design in 2025, earning associate degrees in both studio arts and liberal arts and humanities, before transferring to the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she is currently continuing her undergraduate studies in visual art.
She credits her professors at West Valley with supporting her growth as an artist and inspiring her toward a career in the classroom. Jordan is now pursuing a path in art education, aiming to keep the arts alive for students as a painting professor.
Instagram: _amanijordan_
Artowrk:
- Untitled, 2022, acrylic on Masonite
- Untitled, 2024, acrylic on canvas
- Untitled, 2025, oil on canvas
