Lauren Janelle, also known as LJANELLE, is visual artist from Third Ward in Houston, Texas. She draws upon her upbringing as a Black woman in the US to expand her work. She documents the experiences of her friends, family, and community primarily through painting, fiber, drawing, and mixed media. More recently, using found materials and reclaimed materials is a central part of her work. Further, she is an avid sewist and with that comes dozens of fabric scraps that are re-used and transformed in her work. She also uses materials that would often be tossed like plastic grocery bags in an effort to reimagine waste. Nostalgia and honoring those who have passed down traditions and knowledge are central to her practice. In addition, life in the American South, religion, and current events are paramount to her practice. 

LJANELLE graduated from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA with a B.A. in Economics. She has shown her work at Lawndale Art Center (Houston) The University Museum at Texas Southern University (Houston), The Glassell School of Art at the Museum of Fine Arts (Houston), Community Artists’ Collective (Houston), Icosa Gallery (Austin), The March for Black Women Houston (Houston) amongst others.