Jessica Wiarda is an illustrator of Hopi and white descent, based here in Salt Lake City. She is known to explore her experiences living in two worlds as a bi-racial American.

-I have never quite belonged entirely to either world. As an artist, I think this gives me a unique perspective on life and I enjoy learning new things about both sides of my heritage.-

According to Wiarda, she loves exploring color and shape in her work and simplifying things like food and people to their most basic forms but still keeping them identifiable.

-Some things we think are -Native American- don-t have anything to do with any tribe at all so I invite you to explore my Hopi artwork and learn about a tribe that doesn-t see a lot of representation in mainstream culture,- she adds.

Jessica Wiarda was selected as Utah Diné Bikéyah-s Artist in Residence for 2022. Her artwork and apparel can be discovered at our art gallery located within the Leonardo Museum in downtown Salt Lake City.

To learn more about Jessica, visit her website: JessicaWiarda.com