About Jay Mora-Shihadeh

My work is grounded in a B.F.A. in Painting and Drawing from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, with a minor in Art Therapy.

Before developing my independent studio practice, I spent eight years as an On-Air Visual Coordinator at HSN, working behind the scenes of live national broadcasts. That experience deepened my appreciation for how color, composition, and visual detail shape what people see and feel. Working in a fast-paced environment taught me to trust my eye and make thoughtful visual choices under pressure—an instinct that continues to guide my artistic practice and approach to visual storytelling.

The Visual Journey

My artwork has evolved from representational studies to abstract expressionism, characterized by bold, expressive color and gestural lines. Today, I continue to develop a hybrid style I call Tradigital Art, using tools like Krita and Figma to bridge my traditional studio roots with contemporary digital practices. This process is not about replacement, but about transforming original paintings and pastels into new digital compositions.

The Poetic Voice

My visual practice eventually opened into poetry and writing, where I work across lyric, experimental, surrealist, speculative, and sound-driven forms. Informed by Nature, Social Justice, and my experience of the Palestinian Diaspora and Irish-American heritage, my work explores memory, inheritance, and perception. My poetry has been published in Spillwords Press, Door=Jar, Masticadores USA, and Free Verse Revolution.

For many years, I considered myself strictly a visual person. Writing came to me later in life as a sudden, natural phenomenon—an internal prompt I finally decided to obey. What began as journaling evolved into a serious love of the creative process, where spontaneity remains as vital as the end result.

The Sensory Narrative

My creative work has also extended into culinary aesthetics. I approached the composition of a plate much as I would a canvas, considering balance, color, texture, and visual storytelling. Across painting, poetry, and culinary exploration, I have been interested in how aesthetic choices shape the way we experience and connect with the world. Across these mediums, I have sought to maintain a consistent standard of Aesthetic Integrity.

I continue to “journey on,” exploring the creative landscape from the Inside Out.

My hope is that the intersection of my visual, literary, and culinary work inspires a shared connection and moves you in some way.