Poppin' in Tulsa

Seeing Jenee’ through Aaru’s front window with her equipment and design options during her weekend residency as Dreamland Festival’s tattoo artist was a lot of people's introduction to the Pop-Up Princess.

The constant crowd stationed in the background, trying to catch a flash of her brilliance, left a permanent mark on festival attendees, even if they didn’t get inked. An encore following the festival was certain. “I’m so grateful for Dreamland,” Jenee’ tells ASLUT. “It literally started people calling me the Pop-Up Princess lately because I have not stopped popping up since Dreamland. I got to tap into every demographic that exists in Tulsa.”

Stops since the cultural touchstone that was Dreamland in September have included a Miami Art Basel, Silhouette Sneakers & Art, and noname.residency at Mercury Lounge. Yet this current run wasn’t the jump.

Jenee’, a multimedia artist, was introduced to art as a child by her grandmother and has been pursuing it full time since 2020. “I almost feel like it's ungrateful to seclude yourself to one medium,” Jenee’ says. “And I'm fascinated by the process of construction and deconstruction. So it's just all of these things that catch my eye because I see the art in everything. Everything in the world has to be designed and drafted before it can come into fruition. And so for art to be the most disrespected genre of life. It’s in literally everything.”

The respect she has is what allows her to follow any design path that truly pulls her as a creative. Far from lost along the way, she has learned the value of specialization from other artists. Not yet 30, Jenee‘ doesn’t doubt she’s put in her 10,000 hours as a painter and is stacking them toward it as a tattoo artist.

“The only reason I refuse to give up one or the other is because I learn a lot about tattooing through murals and doing commission work,” explains Jenee’. ”Because I can spend more time doing paintings with techniques that I can incorporate into tattooing. Tattooing ain’t nothing but painting on someone's skin. It’s the same mechanisms.”

Her pairing of natural talent and technical experience have created demand for her work no matter the canvas. “I just feel happy and lucky enough to have a clientele that needs me for multiple things,” Jenee’ says. “I get to do multiple things, but I'll never let any of them be overshadowed for one.”

About to enter her next decade, Jenee has already started a new chapter. “Right now I’m exiting survival mode and worried about living,” Jenee’ says. “So every time I bring up that I'm getting ready to be 30, it's like I'm holding myself accountable because I'm practicing not being the version of myself that's attached to my trauma.”

There is also no interest in living out a trope. Jenee’ is doing things like getting up earlier and working out to help her mental health. And she’s giving herself grace.

”There is no perfect schedule for an artist,” Jenee’ says. “So now I'm getting better rest. I'm understanding I don't need to be a starving artist and work until six in the morning because I'm still not going to actually get farther when I'm making my body tired. Or I'm second guessing my strokes because my eyes hurt.”

Art has not only given her a new perspective on the future. It is giving her a new future.
“I accidentally built a brand for myself. I'm trying to legitimize myself as a business versus just doing something for quick bucks,” Jenee’ says. “The good thing about art is it never lets you get comfortable. You never are the best at it, you just continuously get better. It always gives me something to do.” More than passion, it’s purpose for her.

“I am doing what makes me happy, but this is a lot of work,” Jenee’ has accepted. “And this is something that I feel called to do. Like I'm literally meant to paint the world through my vision basically. And inspire people in the process. So there's no guidebook to this.”

Even without a guidebook, she’s center stage at the noname.residency on the last night of February. Fifteen time slots for her talents were available. Fifteen hands figuratively raised. Only a few minutes each, one-by-one they walk away with a grin and one of Tulsa’s hottest collector pieces.

Her art won’t stop popping up on canvases, walls, artists, bartenders, servers, musicians, business owners, and others all over The Town. Jenee’ is making an impression on Tulsa that won’t be fading anytime soon.

You can keep up with all things Jenee’ on Instagram @juhfayfay or book her for your next event via email jeneestaicer@gmail.com