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Jordan Porter-Woodruff

@japwoodruff

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South Africa owes me nothing 🇿🇦

A new bond and family was created. What a blessing.

#sisonke by @japwoodruff

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22 days ago

“Another World, Another View” reflects Jordan Porter-Woodruff’s three-week residency in South Africa with the Muholi Art Institute under the leadership of Zanele Muholi.

Traveling through Johannesburg, Cape Town and the Western Cape, I became aware of how history, race, community and identity exist in layers.

Through conversations and everyday encounters, South Africa revealed itself not as one story, but as many realities existing at once. By layering figures, landscapes and moments, the series reflects that complexity and considers what becomes visible when multiple perspectives are allowed to coexist.

If you’d like access to the series when it becomes available, please provide your email address via DM. by @japwoodruff

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22 days ago

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a month ago

The approach to my time in South Africa has been to let the shot come. No plans or overthinking. We went on safari to Pilanesberg in hopes of seeing the big 5. But what we got instead was this lovely elephant who came down from a hill and approached our vehicle. He looked right at us and started eating. When he stayed for a while it felt like he was communicating. I didn’t know it at the time, but across cultures elephants signify strength, wisdom, good fortune and family loyalty. All things that have played a significant roll in the past few years. It’s amazing what you can experience without an agenda.

Thanks for reading if you made it this far. by @japwoodruff

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a month ago

This photo means a lot to me. I met both @muholizanele and @anushka_kempken_art (the woman on the far right) in 2023. It was a year where I knew I had the capacity to take my art more seriously and was desperate to show the world what I was made of. In April, I met Zanele at EXPO Chicago and (in true Jordan fashion) approached them and asked if we could talk. I showed them my work, told them about my vision and basically said, “I need a mentor” and to my excitement, Muholi agreed. A lot of people say a lot of things and they do nothing. Zanele is the opposite. The community is their life.

Anushka, on the other hand, is an artist from Johannesburg who was also in the Florence Biennale in 2023. We became fast friends and have followed eachother since. Once they saw Leia and I were here we knew we had to connect, but of course, they are a huge Zanele fan. Thus, she came to the opening of FACES AND PHASES KHULULEKANI and we introduced them and got this picture. Not only does this photo feel special but it is also a full circle moment. My 2023 has absolutely informed my 2026.

Thank you @thandwa_yinkosi for capturing this moment! by @japwoodruff

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a month ago

I’ll start with this … It’s crazy how life works. For the next 3 weeks I’ll be in South Africa traveling from Johannesburg to Cape Town for a residency offered to me by Sir Professor Muholi. This guy has been such a blessing and honestly allowed me to better believe in myself, what I do and the stories I focus on. To be in your personal space and meeting your inner circle has been life changing and it’s only day two. Someone told me, “there’s your life before South Africa and your life post South Africa.” I’m already getting it. Let’s tell our people’s stories.

@muholizanele @muholiart_institute

Shout out to wifey for the pics @thatssoleia by @japwoodruff

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a month ago

Here’s a “summers almost over” recap post. I’ve been having a good time. Thank you universe for the love and responsibility. by @japwoodruff

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2 months ago

On July 19th from 2-5pm I’ll be showing this portrait of my grandfather Arnold, “He was an architect” from the Father’s Day series, “The good men.”

This piece is apart of the group show MEDLEY curated by @latitudechi opening at @epiphanyarts201. Hope to see you there!

“He was an architect”
16 3/16” x 23 9/16”
Photograph on Matte Baryta by @japwoodruff

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3 months ago

As this Father’s Day and Juneteenth weekend come to a close I wanted to take the time to celebrate the men in my family. I am fortunate to have my father (80), step father (57), grandfather (90) and step grandfather (85) to all be living. Here’s a little about each of them.

Image 1: my father loves puzzles. He’s 80 years old and has made his own puzzle series about the African American astronauts. He calls me a “perfectionist.”

Image 2: my step father. He’s incarcerated now for drunk driving and killing a man. He woke me up to my own negligence with drinking, which has forever changed me and I am grateful for that.

Image 3: my grandpa Arnold. Everyone who doesn’t know me assumes I am half Asian. I am not. My physique and eye shape come from this man. He’s tall and has been a string bean his whole life.

Image 4: my grandpa Bernard and my grandma Carol. They laid the roots for my family. For awhile my mother, sister, aunt, grandma and grandpa all lived in the same house on Pill Hill while I was a child. They bought it in the 70’s. If it weren’t for that house I don’t know where we’d be right now.

Family is so important and the stories not only tell us who we are but also give us clues to where we’re going. Happy Father’s Day to the real ones out there, no matter how imperfect. by @japwoodruff

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4 months ago

I been having a real hard time trying to find the words for what I have to say. But on 2/3 at 1pm I had to let my baby girl go. On the day it felt right, I knew she had been struggling and we had countless talks about how we would have to live without each other on these new journeys - no matter how difficult. What’s been hardest is the days that go by and all I can do is kiss her urn. I wanted a dog before I ever wanted anything thing else on this earth. I used to ask my mom consistently. First thing I did when I got to college and got my own place was get Dutchess. I got to love her for 13 glorious years and at first was not entirely sure who I would be without her. But then I thought about what she and I would do in those early days. Me at 22 walking around Edgewater, we’d go on hours long walks. Id always look at the lovely homes and think to myself what my life would be like once out of school. Who would I marry? Where would I live? What would my life and career look like? Nothing was more beautiful than realizing the same questions I asked at the beginning of Dutchess’ life were answered by the time of her death. If you know me you know this is my A1 mothafuckin nigga. I was a MENACE during this dog’s heyday. I guess it’s truly the end of an era for me. I will say I feel stronger now, not because she’s gone but because I am stronger as a person. I know what I want. I know what I’m doing. And life is just beginning in so many ways. by @japwoodruff

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7 months ago

You can follow the lines everywhere in Tokyo. Up and down, side to side. taken in Tokyo 東京, Japan by @japwoodruff

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9 months ago

Photos of Arashiyama, Kyoto. Such a peaceful place 😌 in the Fall you get the most beautiful colors and natural shadows. taken in Arashiyama by @japwoodruff

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9 months ago