36"H x 48"W x 1.5"D Mixed media painting on canvas (2023). Materials: oil paint, acrylic paint, African Wax fabrics and vinyl hand sewn onto canvas, sequins, thread, stickers, velvet, faux plants, beads, elastic string. Price $18,000 plus shipping. Open edition prints available. Please send all inquires to infojenniferwarrenart@gmail.com.

Limbo is a reminder to look at all facets of your life. You have the talent, means, passion, and capability to achieve all that you desire.

Limbo Explained:

I view riding public transportation as a sign of poverty or a form of settling, in a way, for a life that is not truly what I want for myself. I ride the red line and the number 8 bus often and I often find myself wondering how long I will have to do this. The real question is how long will I allow myself to exist in the purgatory I have put myself in? How long will I be stuck between the life that I want and the life that I have? If I remain standing on the bus or train, I’m not allowing myself the freedom to get comfortable in this environment but if I brace myself by grabbing hold of the handles, just like a noose, they tighten around my hands and keep me stuck. In real life, I am afraid to sit down on the subway and I do not feel comfortable sitting on the bus. I can’t allow myself to get comfortable in a situation that I believe to be temporary. I can’t settle.

My therapist challenges me to flip the narrative. Instead of looking at my situation as a hole I am tasked with digging myself out of, I need to look at my present circumstances as a vehicle transporting me to my ideal future. When I think critically about my feelings and fear of public transportation, I realize that it’s not holding me back, in fact, it’s moving me forward. Having to ride the bus and the subway is helping me to ultimately get to the place I really want to be. They are an essential part of my journey to the future. The key is to remember that this is a temporary in-between. It will not be permanent as long as I continue to choose growth and use it for what it is, a vehicle through the in-between. Not a permanent fixture. I grab the handles to brace myself for the ups and downs. They look like nooses but I can let go at any time.

I know that there is a lot of symbolism in this piece. I know what it all means to me. I’m curious as to the viewer’s interpretation as it can go in so many ways. The nooses alone are enough to send a person’s brain and heart racing. Learning to tie them was a heavy experience. When I googled how to tie a noose knot the first thing that came up was the suicide hotline. That made me cry. Even more present, is the history of lynching. Of course I come from a long line of survivors. It’s in my blood. When I flip the narrative, I see it as a sign that I too will overcome my current struggles. The noose is not a sign of strength, I don’t want it to be confused with a symbol of strength. It’s a symbol of hate and bigotry. It's also a symbol of mental illness, loneliness, and despair. But I don’t believe I came to this earth to suffer. There will always be roadblocks on this path. When you stand in purgatory the way you perceive you your challenges will define your future success. That’s what I tell myself. For as long as I exist in Limbo, I continue to convince myself that the next phase will be better. The future will make the present worth it and I will overcome, just as so many others have done before me.