Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project Panel Discussion

Twenty-one-year-old artist Jabari Reed, who also goes by acronym I.B.O.M.S. — an acronym for “Illegal Beauty On My Streets” — was featured in an exhibition showcasing his work at The Mize Gallery in St. Pete in February 2021. Titled “Ego Death,” even before the show closed, all the pieces in the exhibit were sold, with most going on opening night. In 2020, he also painted a large-scale mural as part of the Sea Walls: St. Petersburg exhibit, which brought attention to ecological concerns regarding Florida’s waterways. That year he was also commissioned by the League of Women Voters to help spread their Vote By Mail campaign with a large mural painted on the walls of the Enoch Davis Center.

Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project, Inc. (PDAP) is a framework and collective created by and for Black and Brown Artists to support, encourage, and promote Black and Brown Arts and Artists in Tampa Bay. Join us as we view some of Jabari’s art, talk about his process, and learn more about his inspiration.