Artist Bio
Marie Jeanne is an independent artist working and living in Hellertown, Pennsylvania. Her interest in art and stained glass began in 2010 when she first arrived in the U.S. from Guinea Conakry in West Africa. While attending Germantown High School, she crafted paper birds with intricate feathers and stained glass. One of her feather birds won first place in the Philadelphia School District art competition, kicking off her career as a visual artist.
Upon graduating, she attended the Community College of Philadelphia and continued studying English as a second language. Jeanne then transferred to Shippensburg University, majoring in French language and culture while taking many art courses, including art history, three-dimensional art, and ceramics.
After graduating from Shippensburg University, Jeanne felt torn between pursuing a career as a translator and exploring her passion for stained glass and painting. She made a studio in her basement, a sanctuary where she could express her creativity, and dedicated herself to making art from an international perspective.
Her early experiences influence Jeanne’s artwork in Guinea Conakry and the West African perspective on life. She draws from the region’s spirituality and the concept of sacred femininity. With this in mind, Jeanne’s art explores the mythology, spirituality, and representation of women in her culture.
With her fine art, Jeanne combines her experiences as a young adult in Pennsylvania with her early influences in Guinea Conakry. Although women are considered sacred in West Africa, open conversation about a woman’s body is still taboo. Therefore, Jeanne’s dream is to introduce a frank dialogue about all aspects of femininity, including the bodily form.
Artist Statement
Thirteen years ago, the magic of stained glass gripped me, beginning with simple floral designs inspired by other artists. Initially, my creations felt unoriginal until a fortunate mistake introduced me to 'Habaism,' a technique blending traditional stained glass with a unique glass-on-glass method. This approach brought new depth and luminosity to my work, allowing my pieces to evolve from imitations into genuine expressions of my creativity.
My art transformed after revisiting my homeland, Guinea Conakry, where I found inspiration in the resilient women who form the backbone of our society. Their stories of love, pain, dreams, and resilience infused my work with meaning. By capturing their everyday lives in glass, I celebrate Guinean women’s strength and beauty and share our rich culture with the world.
Now, my art blends personal experience and the compelling stories of my people. It's more than just aesthetics—it's a dialogue about resilience, culture, and beauty in our daily lives. This journey has shown me that art is not just about creating beautiful objects but about embracing and reflecting the powerful narratives surrounding us.