For Jovon Outlaw, art is about people. Their art connects people and makes art accessible to all, despite their economic status. As an artist with an invisible disability, their setbacks have allowed them to create more vulnerable work. Their work involves blending art mediums to create a dynamic vision. The themes of their work include showing there are more levels to people than they show on the outside, giving more voice to people who don’t have it, disability awareness, and using humor in dark circumstances.
Jovon was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2017, forcing them to deal with their mortality at a point where they couldn’t articulate their feelings. They went temporarily blind for two months after being diagnosed. As someone who was deemed to be a Director of Photography, they felt lost. Their sight came back but even while dealing with Optic Neuritis, they still created art. Jovon learned how to be an artist with health insurance. During this same time, they dived deeper into their comedic and performance artistry. Their setbacks have only helped them to not only blend their arts, but create vulnerable work. They want to rid the idea for the next generation that you must be a suffering artist with the belief that art can give life and not take so many.
