ARTIST STATEMENT
My artistic practice operates at the intersection of art, design, history, and culture, using creativity as a way to explore place, memory, and collective experience. I work across painting, mixed media, digital art, and installation, blending traditional processes with contemporary techniques to create layered visual narratives rooted in both personal stories and shared cultural histories. Landscape is central to my work, as a framework for understanding how environments shape identity, movement, and belonging. Drawing from my background in landscape architecture, environmental design, and visual arts, I explore the evolving relationship between people and place through texture, material, and spatial composition. My work aims to feel familiar and layered, inviting viewers to pause within everyday spaces and reflect on how creative expression can honor history while imagining what’s possible next.
ARTIST BIO
Stephanie Onwenu is a Detroit-based visual artist and landscape designer whose work explores the intersections of art, design, history, and culture. Her multidisciplinary approach blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary techniques to create thought-provoking works that engage with themes of identity, place, and belonging. As the founder of Ijeomalandartscapes LLC, a landscape art experience, she uses creative storytelling and design as tools to challenge norms, experiment with materials, and transform spaces with intention and meaning.
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The name "Ijeoma," in Ijeomalandartscapes LLC originates from the Igbo language of Nigeria, translates to "a wish of happiness or a safe journey in life." This reflects her vision to create art that not only inspires reflection but also fosters connection. Stephanie’s work emphasizes the dynamic relationship between landscapes and art, pushing boundaries to cultivate dialogues that bridge personal narrative with collective cultural experience.
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A graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s in Landscape Architecture, minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies and a Master’s in Environmental Design, Stephanie’s background uniquely combines landscape design with artistic expression. Her projects often explore the role of nature in our built environments, blending 3D art, modeling, and natural materials to create immersive experiences that challenge conventional design approaches.
