Interview
Angelo Jackson
Chicago-native Angelo Jackson is a contemporary artist whose work is rooted in resilience, transformation, and the elevation of the human spirit. Guided by clairvoyant sensitivity, Angelo uses mixed media to create pieces that bridge the physical and the unseen. The “Angelo Effect,” a fusion of expressionism and spiritualism, carries intensity, imagination, and empathy. His art reflects both shadow and light, trial and transcendence. After surviving a traumatic brain injury, Angelo now navigates life and art from a wheelchair, transforming challenge into power and vision.
His paintings are portals: vibrant expressions that channel ancestry, spirituality, emotional depth, and the voice of the inner child. Each canvas is not just an image, but an invitation; to confront belief, to find renewal, and to recognize the spirit present in all things. Angelo’s work empowers artists to reclaim ownership of their imagination. With years of experience in the visual art and NFT world, Angelo transforms creativity into collectible expressions that traverse both physical and digital realities. From NFTs to wearable art and other textiles, each piece he produces challenges convention while celebrating originality and self-expression. With growing recognition from AGI Fine Art in New York and an expanding list of clients, Angelo is working to establish presence in a gallery – a sanctuary of color, perspective, and healing energy. His mission is simple yet profound: to inspire, to challenge, and to offer connection through art that is as raw and authentic as it is visionary and otherworldly.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My background is rooted in tattooing and formal art training. Tattooing taught me precision, intuition, and respect for permanence—you’re working on living skin, so you learn very quickly how important intention is. After an injury, I had to step away from tattooing, and painting became a therapeutic outlet during recovery. What started as healing slowly became something much bigger. Painting gave me a sense of freedom I hadn’t felt before, and I still feel that every time I work. Through it, I’ve come to understand myself more deeply as an artist. Over time, my work evolved into what feels like my true form.”
What inspires you?
“I’m inspired by the void. I like looking into darkness and allowing images to surface from it—things that already exist but haven’t been made visible yet. There’s something powerful about staring into the abyss and letting it stare back at you. That exchange is where my ideas come from. My work is about translating what lives in that space into something tangible in our reality.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I explore divine femininity, ethereal mysticism, and what I’d call dark but uplifting or twisted-happy motifs. I’m interested in finding beauty where people don’t expect it—in contradiction, in shadow, in complexity. A lot of my work deals with victory, identity, and the human experience. The underlying message is that beauty existed before light ever touched it. Things were beautiful long before we had the ability to see them.”
How would you describe your work?
“I’d describe my work as happy, twisted, dark, and uplifting all at once. It’s about the journey of finding yourself—like a traveler moving through different states of awareness in search of inspiration and truth.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I’m influenced by artists who weren’t afraid to be raw or unconventional. I connect deeply with emotional expression and distortion, with artists who didn’t care about fitting into boxes. Texture and movement matter to me—paint as vibration, as frequency. I’m also inspired by prolific creators, people who trusted their process enough to keep going without overthinking.”
What is your creative process like?
“My process starts with listening. I let the canvas tell me what it wants to be—it really is easier that way. Often, I’ll start priming and begin to see images immediately. If nothing shows up, I’ll smear paint and let the movement guide me until something speaks. It’s a conversation, not a demand. For commissions, I approach it similarly to designing a tattoo: I’m given direction, I study references, and then I add my own flavor so the piece still feels like mine.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Artists give life meaning. Without art, the world would be a very boring place. I honestly believe that if more world leaders were artists, the world would vibrate at a higher frequency. With AI entering the creative space, it’s still unfolding, but imagination remains limitless. The tool may change, but the role of the artist—to translate emotion, meaning, and vision—will always matter.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I was deeply struck by Whispered Geometry of Neon Dreams by Lesya Verba. Her work feels bold, dramatic, and unapologetically expressive—it doesn’t ask for permission or validation. What I admire most is her restraint within intensity. She presents her version of reality with subtlety, but she delivers it through dramatic expression. There’s confidence in that balance. She isn’t explaining what’s happening; she’s showing you, trusting the viewer to meet the work where it stands. That kind of artistic ownership is powerful, and it’s something I respect deeply.”
Website: www.artbyangelo.com
Instagram: @artbyangelo1
