Jazz Holmes 

Southern Grown 

Lives & works in Denver, Colorado 

 

Holmes works in mixed media to reflect the complexity of cultural cuisine and agriculture along with the essential relationship between people and the land that sustains all living things. Her practice begins with the understanding that culinary culture is built through cultivation: we tend, steward, and care for the earth, and in return it feeds and nourishes us. 

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Layering materials and surfaces mirrors the histories and stories embedded within Black Creole cuisine. Food, like culture, is never singular. It carries a legacy shaped not only by oppression, but also by resilience, creativity, and hope. Knowledge and resilience is passed down through growing and making food throughout generations.

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For Holmes, this duality of history is central. Her work insists on a fuller narrative, honoring the endurance of her ancestors and celebrating their contributions to cultural life. Rather than centering only on struggle, she elevates the creativity born from it.

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Through this lens, Holmes’ practice transforms everyday reference ; food, form, and texture into layered meditations on heritage and identity. Her art is not only a personal exploration but also a call to recognize the depth of Black Southern traditions and the need to elevate them to high status they deserve.