Jyoti (she/they) is a photographer, crafter, and baker from Oakland, CA.
She uses digital, film, and alternative processes to discuss family, mental health, and identity, She has exhibited work at Panopticon Gallery in Boston, MA and their work has also been featured in online exhibitions by the Darkside Collective and the Too Tired Project. She received a BFA in photography in 2021 and graduated with honors from Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
She currently works as a gallery manager at Oakland Photo Workshop and is the studio manager for Ellen Shershow Photography.
About the Logo
The logo on my website represents my Afro-Desi heritage.
My name written in Devanagari, the writing system used for Hindi, Sanskrit, and other South Asian languages
Adinkra symbols are visual symbols that represent concepts, proverbs, and aphorisms. They originated from the Gyaman people of Ghana and Cotê d’Ivoire but have been adopted among the African Diaspora.
Information from adinkrasymbols.org/
Meaning of Jyoti
When deciding on names, my mom wanted to name me something that represented her Indian culture because “If we ever fall out, at least she will have something of mine.”
Growing up, I spent most of my time surrounded by my Indian heritage. While I couldn’t speak the languages, I did learn how to write my name in Devanagari. As a kid, I would often sign my cards to my grandmother with it.
Initially, finding a symbol for my dad’s side of the family was challenging; he didn’t often speak of his heritage or his family. Years after he passed, I finally thought of using an Adinkra symbol to represent the meaning of my name, as they are common within the African diaspora.