Halisi Noel-Johnson

Halisi Noel-Johnson (b. 1978) is an interdisciplinary artist who joined NIAD Art center in 2017. Working primarily with textiles and printmaking, Noel-Johnson has produced numerous pieces about Black Pride and Black Power. Her work has been exhibited around the Bay Area at venues such as the Petaluma Art Center, the Chico Art Center, the Richmond Art Center, and the OMCA.

I am creative in many ways, such as journal writing, quilt making, printmaking, working with linocuts, fabric making, sketch drawing, making ceramics/jewelry and African inspired sculptures. Sometimes I like to cross-pollinate in my work; I wrote a poem about making my first quilt at NIAD. I like to feed my creations. 

2020 was my first time making a quilt. I like to hand sew my quilts and use different African fabrics and silky fabrics. Sewing is a family thing for me. My mom made Halloween costumes for us. She got it from her mom too. I like to make things that people will use like quilts, shirts and bags.

I like to alternate colors and overlap colors in my quilts. Rosie Lee Tompkins, NIAD facilitator Kim Huhta and NIAD fiber circle tutorials are helpful to me. Since shelter-in place I have been looking at online tutorials for printmaking and fiber work at home.

I make art work inspired by African masks which are a symbol to me of Black Pride and Black Power and roots. Native Americans and pilgrims are also a part of our roots. 

President Obama was the first Black president and he inspired me to do more political art work. In the future I want to do linocut prints of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and other political figures. 

In 2017 I made a really strong print of Angela Davis who was in the Black Panthers. This work is about my Black Female Heroes; including Maya Angelou and my current Black History Month quilt project. Maya Angelou is a favorite poet of mine; she is a heavy hitter and the first famous poet. I love her poem “And Still I Rise.”

I like to carve out a theme or a drawing in printmaking. I really like the motion of cutting. I like how you can do different colors of ink on the same piece. I like doing mixed media on the same print too. When I carve out an image it stands out and pops out from the linoleum. My Praise Dancers prints are important and powerful pieces to me because they are praising Him and lifting Him up in dance.