Jena Ataras

Jena Ataras is a Portland-based artist working predominantly with mixed media and digital collage. She desires to shift her viewers’ perspectives through the exploration of deconstructed materials and forms, to expose societal underbellies. Inspired by a variety of tactile elements - from transformed hues to dimensional phenomena - Ataras creates unexpected visual conversations with her art. She pulls apart a range of genres and textures to reveal the hidden possibilities within each material. Her constant experimentation of form and usage of mixed media allows her to reveal otherwise obscured concepts, dissolving boundaries to create new perspectives. Ataras’ work is a powerful example of art as an activist, questioning norms and advocating for a world beyond binaries.

Artist Statement

My series, “Guardians of The Whispering Woods” explores the enchanted realm of the woods, where children discover and embrace their unique, magical abilities. Inspired by diverse mythology and folklore, each child embodies a distinct power rooted in nature - whispering with animals, manipulating plant life, or harnessing the energy of the elements. They are not superheroes, but ordinary children empowered by their cultural heritage and connection to the natural world.

This series is a celebration of difference. The children, with their varied skin tones, hairstyles, and clothing, represent the beauty and strength found in our diverse global community. As the children navigate the challenges of self-discovery, they learn to harness their powers not for personal gain, but for the protection and harmony of their community. This message of cooperation and collective strength resonates deeply with the current fight for social justice and celebrates the interconnectedness of all beings.

My hope is to inspire young artists, to embrace their individual identities and see themselves as capable of achieving extraordinary things.