Jerome White

About the Artist

Jerome T. White, a Cleveland-based artist and educator, blends history, spirituality, and culture in his figurative work inspired by Charles White and Dr. John Biggers. He studied Studio Art at Baldwin-Wallace College, Medical Illustration at the Cleveland Institute of Art, and earned a Master’s in Art Education from Case Western Reserve University. Jerome’s mixed-media approach evokes soul-stirring narratives through layered textures and symbolic imagery. He teaches at Monticello Middle School and contributes to community mural projects like Voices of Cleveland. Also, a children’s book author and illustrator, Jerome is committed to nurturing creativity and storytelling across generations.

Artist's Connection to the Mission

My body of work is a visual exploration of liberation—liberation from the physical, mental, and spiritual chains of slavery. Rooted in the historical and emotional legacy of African American resilience, my art seeks to reclaim identity, restore dignity, and celebrate the unbreakable spirit of a people who endured the unimaginable and still rose.

Each piece reflects a journey toward freedom—not just from the literal bondage of slavery, but from the inherited trauma, imposed limitations, and systemic erasure that continue to affect Black bodies and minds. Through layered symbolism, rich textures, and Afrocentric imagery, I invite the viewer to witness moments of healing, remembrance, resistance, and joy. My use of color, form, and pattern is deeply intentional, evoking both ancestral memory and future possibility.