Jo Ann Briseño is a multimedia artist, an entrepreneur, and an ardent advocate for her daughter with intellectual disabilities. 

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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 illustration and painting to her preferred media. Her subject matter and styles include simple line drawings that have messages for people of all ages, stunning photographs that capture emotion and patterns in everyday people and places, and abstract paintings that reveal her deepest emotions and spiritual journey. 

 

Jo Ann holds a Bachelor of Art degree from Kansas City Art Institute and a Master of Fine Art from Arizona State University. She has used her artistic skills and creative eye professionally in book publishing, video production, and website development.

 

As a body, her artwork has one undeniable common thread: authenticity. Jo Ann’s curiosity about and concern for the world around her is evident in her work. She is a firm believer in honesty, and she reveals her truth in each piece, whether it is a positive and encouraging napkin drawing she puts in her daughter’s lunch box each day, an introspective abstract work that explores her painful experiences, a breathtaking portrait of a person she might see on the street, or a revealing capture of the beauty and patterns in the world around us. Regardless of the medium she uses, Jo Ann provides a refreshing, affirming perspective that encourages the viewer to explore each moment with appreciation.

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Parenting Maya, her lovely and talented daughter who has Down syndrome and ASD, has reinforced Jo Ann’s philosophy that beauty and fulfillment can be sought in each moment and that striving to be present and positive, no matter what abilities a person may have, leads to richness in life.

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Jo Ann’s artistic goal is to break down the barriers that keep people from coming together by creating artworks that evoke empathy and understanding.

 

“As an artist, I challenge myself to produce work that is thought-provoking. I believe art can bring awareness and emotion to the viewer, leading to personal reflection and, perhaps, an appreciation for differing perspectives,” she says.