We recently had the chance to connect with Janessa Williams and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Janessa, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I recently hosted my annual summer art show with my collective, Echelon 7. During the event, I asked if we could feature my son’s artwork on the gallery wall and at our merchandise booth. Not only did one of his pieces sell, but nearly everyone left with one of his sketches. I was incredibly proud, and it reminded me how important it is to nurture a child’s creativity. As a parent, I also want to model that creative pursuits are valuable and should not be limited just because others may see them as impractical.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Janessa Williams, the artist behind ColorTripz, based in St. Louis. I express my love of art through acrylic painting, digital illustration, and graphic design. With an MA in Public Relations from Full Sail University and a BFA in Graphic Design from Southeast Missouri State University, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to my creative work.
My art is known for its bold, vibrant colors that celebrate the uniqueness and beauty of melanated skin while exploring themes of social justice, feminism, and Black culture. Over the years, my work has been showcased in exhibitions across the region, and I’ve curated multidisciplinary art shows with over 200 attendees to ensure representation of BIPOC art in St. Louis.
I’ve also contributed to the community as a mural artist at Soldan High School and Rung For Women, creating impactful, large-scale pieces in public spaces. In 2024, I was honored to be named St. Louis Artist of the Year by the St. Louis Arts and Entertainment Awards. I am currently working at COCA as a Teaching Artist at the Central Institute for the Deaf and continuously finding ways to bring the joy of art into others’ lives.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I’ve always had a “fight for the little guy” spirit. Even as a child, I was the one who spoke up for people who were too shy or afraid to defend themselves. I’ve never been afraid to say what needs to be said or to stand up for what’s right. That drive only deepened after three pivotal experiences that shaped how I see the world in terms of race relations and social justice.
The first was when I moved to Meacham Park, a predominantly Black neighborhood in Kirkwood, MO. I arrived shortly after the tragic death of a resident’s younger brother and the subsequent killing of a police officer by Kevin Johnson, which created lasting tension between the community and law enforcement. The neighborhood became heavily patrolled, and I personally experienced harassment, once being stopped by police and forced to empty my backpack on the sidewalk, simply for walking home from the bus stop. It was my first time realizing that our neighborhood was treated very differently than the rest of Kirkwood.
The second moment came with the murder of Trayvon Martin. Trayvon was my age, doing everyday things I often did myself, wearing a hoodie, talking on the phone, and grabbing snacks from the corner store. I couldn’t understand how someone could see him as a threat. I watched George Zimmerman’s entire trial, certain justice would be served, only to be devastated when he was acquitted. That moment, during my senior year of high school, broke my heart and set the tone for how I viewed the world as I stepped into adulthood.
The third shift came during college, when countless incidents of police brutality dominated national headlines. Two in particular hit home: the death of Mike Brown, right in my home of North County St. Louis (or Ferguson as the world knows it now) and the death of Sandra Bland, a member of my sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. Both shook me deeply, and tragically, they were not the last lives we would grieve as a community.
These experiences and the way I saw myself in them are why it’s so important for me to create art that portrays people of color in beautiful, vibrant lights. Too often, depictions of the Black experience focus solely on struggle or pain. I want to normalize seeing us simply as people, living, loving, and experiencing joy in our own unique ways. We are more than our struggles. We are not people to be feared. We are human, just like everyone else on this spinning rock we call Earth.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Life is shaped by your temperament during times of suffering. In my darkest seasons, facing postpartum depression, PTSD from a car accident, and the losses and struggles brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, I often thought life couldn’t get any harder. I felt lost, yet I kept showing up, even when I didn’t know what that would look like. I continued to show patience with my family, prayed to God often, and created art within my community. Through it all, I never lost sight of my goals and dreams.
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that when life feels unpredictable, there is always one constant: the sun will rise and set, giving us another chance to begin again tomorrow. Now, standing on the other side of those struggles, I can fully appreciate moments of success. I can feel proud of myself and thank God for them. I’ve also realized that success that comes too quickly can sometimes be shallow or short-lived. True success becomes meaningful when you’ve developed the grit and resilience it takes to steward your blessings well.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
The cultural value I protect at all costs is the belief that “it takes a village.” Community is everything to me—whether it’s family by blood or the family you create along the way. None of us can thrive alone, and I’ve seen firsthand how community can be life-changing.
When I was in college, I became a mother at 21 while balancing full-time classes, a full-time night shift job, and caring for my newborn. It was overwhelming, and honestly, there were moments I didn’t know how I would manage. But my sorority sisters stepped in as part of my village. They helped my husband and me care for our son and supported me through that season, and without them, I wouldn’t have been able to graduate.
That experience taught me the power of relationships and interdependence. Even now, many of the career opportunities I’ve received have come through the relationships I’ve cultivated and nurtured over time. My village has been both my safety net and my launch pad, and I strive to be that same support for others. Protecting and honoring community, making sure no one feels they have to carry life’s challenges alone, is a value I’ll always hold close.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace late at night when my children are tucked into bed after a full day of being loved by their mommy and daddy. In those quiet moments, I can breathe and reflect on the home my husband and I have cultivated, a home that feels safe, comfortable, and full of love. For me, that’s the truest measure of success: a strong marriage and creating an environment where my children feel loved, safe, and respected.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.colortripz.com
- Instagram: colortripzcreative
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janessa-williams/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colortripz
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@colortripz_creative
Image Credits
Photographer: Dopeness Visials on Instagram
