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Jamil Hellu
Photographer
Jamil Hellu is a visual artist and photographer originally from Brazil, now based in the United States. His work primarily focuses on exploring themes of identity, cultural heritage, queer sexuality, and race through various mediums, with a strong emphasis on lens-based art.12
Education and Background
Hellu holds a Master of Fine Arts in Art Practice from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from the San Francisco Art Institute.2 His Brazilian origins and Middle-Eastern heritage play a significant role in shaping his artistic perspective and the themes he explores in his work.2
Artistic Practice
Hellu's artistic practice encompasses:
- Traditional photography
- Video installations
- Screen-printing
- Multi-disciplinary approaches
His work often investigates the intersection of Arab ethnicity and gay identity, exploring the conflicts and complexities that arise from this combination.2
Recognition and Residencies
Throughout his career, Jamil Hellu has received several notable recognitions and participated in various residency programs:
- 2018 Eureka Fellowship from the Fleishhacker Foundation
- Kala Art Institute Fellowship in Berkeley
- Artist-in-Residence at Recology in San Francisco
- Graduate Fellowship Award at Headlands Center for the Arts
- Residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris
- Selected for the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Fellowship2
Professional Involvement
Hellu has been serving on the board of the Artist-in-Residency Program at Recology since 2014, demonstrating his commitment to supporting other artists and engaging with the broader artistic community.2
Jamil Hellu's work stands out for its exploration of personal narratives and the construction of cultural identities, often employing humor while addressing important social issues related to sexual, racial, and cultural identity.3
