Jo Ann Briseño is a mixed media artist, an author, and caregiver to her daughter with multiple disabilities. 

 

Art has been an integral part of Jo Ann’s life since she was 14 years old, when she discovered photography and completely fell in love with it. Since then, she has added pen and ink, watercolor, and printmaking, to her preferred media. 

 

Jo Ann holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Kansas City Art Institute and a Master of Fine Arts from Arizona State University. She has used her artistic skills and creative eye professionally in book publishing, video production, and website development. In recent years she has exhibited her art in public spaces and authored a children’s book featuring her daughter.  

 

While her styles and approaches vary, her aspiration is constant in revealing the everyday beauty of the world around her.

 

As a body, her artwork has one undeniable common thread: human connection.  Jo Ann’s curiosity about and concern for the community around her is a central focus in her work. She strives to uncover her truth in each piece, whether it is a painting of a seemingly insignificant moment that brings peace and joy, or an introspective sketch that speaks about her experience as a forever caregiver. Regardless of the medium she uses, Jo Ann provides a refreshing, affirming perspective that encourages the viewer to explore each moment with appreciation.

 

Parenting Maya, her loving and spirited daughter who has Down syndrome and Autism, has reinforced Jo Ann’s philosophy that beauty and fulfillment can be found in the ordinary, and that by creating and sharing art, connects us, even in the mist of challenging times.