Mixed Media Portrait of Zia Jenae by Courtney Jolliff
This original contemporary artwork, created by Detroit-based artist Courtney Jolliff, depicts the emerging Chicago musician and art collector Zia Jenae. Executed on a non-traditional substrate of recycled newsprint or paper with a vertical fold line, the piece utilizes a mix of acrylic or gouache paint and bold black ink or marker. The central figure is shown from the side in a yellow halter-style gown, standing before a stylized piano. The use of a bright yellow or gold crown atop the figure's head is a significant motif, possibly referencing the works of Jean-Michel Basquiat. The background features heavy,gestural black block-outs and architectural lines that contrast with the printed news text visible beneath the layers of paint. Stylistically, the piece exhibits Neo-Expressionist tendencies with its raw, energetic linework and found-material base. Regarding condition, the paper shows intentional wrinkling and various creasing consistent with the artist's use of ephemeral materials during a period of housing instability following a 2022 house fire. The work is titled as part of the 'Service' exhibition (2023-2024), which serves as a tribute to the community that supported Jolliff during his displacement. The craftsmanship is characterized by a high degree of expressive mark-making and a deliberate tension between the industrial newsprint and the regal subject matter.
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Estimated Value
$4,500 - $6,500
Basic Information
Category
Contemporary Fine Art
Appraised On
March 3, 2026
Estimated Value
$4,500 - $6,500
Additional Details Provided By Owner
User Provided Information
Painting of emerging well known Zia Jenae, Chicago musician and collector of Courtney Jolliff’s work. done by Courtney Jolliff included in his recent art show Service, his first show in Detroit Michigan. The subjects and inspiration of his show were all the people who were there during his time being homeless due to the house fire suffered in 2022.
Item Description
This original contemporary artwork, created by Detroit-based artist Courtney Jolliff, depicts the emerging Chicago musician and art collector Zia Jenae. Executed on a non-traditional substrate of recycled newsprint or paper with a vertical fold line, the piece utilizes a mix of acrylic or gouache paint and bold black ink or marker. The central figure is shown from the side in a yellow halter-style gown, standing before a stylized piano. The use of a bright yellow or gold crown atop the figure's head is a significant motif, possibly referencing the works of Jean-Michel Basquiat. The background features heavy,gestural black block-outs and architectural lines that contrast with the printed news text visible beneath the layers of paint. Stylistically, the piece exhibits Neo-Expressionist tendencies with its raw, energetic linework and found-material base. Regarding condition, the paper shows intentional wrinkling and various creasing consistent with the artist's use of ephemeral materials during a period of housing instability following a 2022 house fire. The work is titled as part of the 'Service' exhibition (2023-2024), which serves as a tribute to the community that supported Jolliff during his displacement. The craftsmanship is characterized by a high degree of expressive mark-making and a deliberate tension between the industrial newsprint and the regal subject matter.
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