Artist Biography

Brandon Deener is an American contemporary visual artist known for his bold, expressive portraits that celebrate Black identity, emotion, and power. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Deener first found success in the music industry as a platinum-selling record producer, songwriter, and vocalist. Working alongside artists like Chris Brown, Tyrese, and R. Kelly, Deener cultivated a strong sense of storytelling—an element that would later influence his visual art. Though self-taught, Deener transitioned fully into the visual arts, where he quickly developed a distinctive style marked by dynamic brushstrokes, vivid color palettes, and powerful depictions of Black figures. His background in music and performance deeply informs his painterly rhythm, movement, and emotional tone. Now based in Los Angeles, he continues to expand his reach in the art world with exhibitions, public murals, and international collaborations.

Statement

Artist Statement

My work exists at the intersection of futurism, realism, and Black identity. As a self-taught artist, I use portraiture to explore the multidimensionality of Black people—our divinity, our vulnerability, our evolution. I am drawn to faces: their geometry, their energy, their stories. Each face I paint becomes a portal—connecting past to future, emotion to imagination.

I use oil paint as a tool of reverence. The skin tones I build are layered, vibrant, and intentional, reflecting the richness and depth of the Black experience. Many of my portraits feature metallic elements, symbolic of royalty, technology, and transcendence. I often depict my subjects as androgynous or otherworldly—free from the confines of stereotype and rooted in both history and possibility.

Through my paintings, I aim to challenge narrow perceptions of Blackness and contribute to a broader, more radiant visual language. My goal is not just representation, but elevation—to present Black people as ethereal, empowered, and limitless.

EXPLORE

Group Exhibition.

West Hollywood, CA.

Jennia - Works Available

Works Available

Side Eyes Through Tortoise Shells

2020

Oil on Canvas

70 x 70 in | 177.8 x 177.8 cm
Collection of Ingrid Best. Courtesy of artist.

INQUIRE

Jennia - Press

Press

IN THE PAINT — Artist Spotlight
Jennia Fredrique Aponte

Jennia Fredrique Aponte, an artist from Gary, Indiana, pays homage to Black dancers and forgotten icons through intricate paper mosaics. Using rare, recycled, and handmade paper collected from her travels, Jennia crafts each piece to honor ancestors and envisions a future of inclusivity and joy.

Sol Aponte And Jennia Fredrique Seek To Amplify Voices In Black Art

Led by the husband-and-wife duo, Art Melanated is making a way for creatives of color—one exhibition at a time.

Meet the Husband and Wife Duo Shaking Up the Art World

Sol and Jennia Aponte are diversifying the overwhelmingly white art world by hosting traveling exhibitions of work by Black artists, thereby creating a new paradigm.

Jennia - Events

Events

International Debut

Meet us in Paris. We’re excited to announce that Art Melanated is making its international debut at the 10th anniversary of AKAA (Also Known As Africa) @akaa_fair Art Fair this October in Paris. As the only U.S. gallery selected to exhibit, we’re bringing the brilliance of our community to the global stage—and spotlighting a very special artist. Jennia Fredrique Aponte @jenniafredrique will present her first solo international exhibition, debuting her breathtaking new series: Clockwork Academy: School for Girls. Set in an alternate 1888, this visionary body of work reimagines Black girlhood at the height of the Industrial Revolution—where invention becomes identity, and sisterhood becomes power. 📍 AKAA Art Fair – Carreau du Temple, Paris 🗓 October 24–26, 2025