Marie Jeanne is an independent artist working and living in Hellertown, Pennsylvania. Her interest in art and stained glass began in 2010 when she first arrived in the U.S. from Guinea Conakry in West Africa. While attending Germantown High School, she crafted paper birds with intricate feathers and stained glass. One of her feather birds won first place in the Philadelphia School District art competition, kicking off her career as a visual artist.
“Thirteen years ago, the magic of stained glass gripped me, beginning with simple floral designs inspired by other artists. Initially, my creations felt unoriginal until a fortunate mistake introduced me to ‘Habaism,’ a technique blending traditional stained glass with a unique glass-on-glass method. This approach brought new depth and luminosity to my work, allowing my pieces to evolve from imitations into genuine expressions of my creativity.
My art transformed after revisiting my homeland, Guinea Conakry, where I found inspiration in the resilient women who form the backbone of our society. Their stories of love, pain, dreams, and resilience infused my work with meaning. By capturing their everyday lives in glass, I celebrate Guinean women’s strength and beauty and share our rich culture with the world.
Now, my art blends personal experience and the compelling stories of my people. It’s more than just aesthetics—it’s a dialogue about resilience, culture, and beauty in our daily lives. This journey has shown me that art is not just about creating beautiful objects but about embracing and reflecting the powerful narratives surrounding us.”