A Short Biography

     
​I was born and grew up in Manhattan as Geri Seignious, later evolving into
Juliet eventually adopted the name Ndidi, given to me by an African female
shaman. Ndidi means patience and perseverance. Growing up in Harlem,
I witnessed Malcolm X enlightening crowds on street corners,
Adam Clayton Powell preaching in the Abyssinian Baptist Church. When doctors
and porters lived in the same buildings. Children played a dizzying array of
street games, and people sat on fire escapes to catch a breeze in the summer.
It was where I was born and grew up in Manhattan as Geraldine (Geri) Seignious,
later evolving into Juliet, and eventually adopting the name Ndidi, given to me
by an African female shaman. Ndidi means patience and perseverance.

It was here, in this vibrant environment, that I acquired my passion for art.
Rainy days, or “inside days,” were particularly special, filled with paper, pencils,
crayons, and the expectation of creation and transformation. From a young age,
I was deeply passionate about painting and dance. These two creative outlets allowed
me to express myself in unique ways. Having two passions, I elected to pursue both in
an after-school program for ballet and art in Junior High School. It was then that I realized
how much I loved them.  

 After auditioning for the School of Performing Arts, famously known for the film Fame,
and the High School of Music and Art, and being accepted to both, I decided to attend
the High School of Performing Arts, famously known for the film "Fame." This decision
was pivotal in shaping my artistic journey. At the High School of Performing Arts, I
immersed
myself in dance, honing my skills and exploring various styles. This experience refined
my technical abilities and instilled a profound appreciation for the performing arts.
After graduating, I had offers from numerous prestigious organizations, including the
Martha Graham Dance Company, a full scholarship for dance at the Juilliard School, and
an apprenticeship program with the New York City Ballet Company, to ultimately partner
with Arthur Mitchell, the only African American dancer in the company. After several years
of study with the NY Ballet Company, at their school, the School of American Ballet.
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Company invited me to join as a founding member. Working
with Alvin was an extraordinarily moving and visual experience. Being part of a black
company and discussing black heritage at the height of African American political and
cultural awareness was terrific and significant. During this experience, I first thought of
expressing thoughts, emotions, and history through paintings in this context.
After a long career in dance with Alvin Ailey, I crossed over to dance on Broadway,
films, television, and several countries abroad with Donald Mckale's "Black New World.
I became inspired to start painting in 1990. Although I painted from 1980 to 1989,
my passion for painting ignited during a trip to Edisto Island, South Carolina—a small
sea island off the coast of Charleston, S.C., where my parents were from; they were
Gullah people. Edisto Island was one of the first places where African Americans arrived
in the United States. It retained numerous vestiges of its unique language, architecture,
food, and cultural history. Initially, I had gone to Edisto to learn about and feel a connection
with my heritage, which my family kept hidden from me as my parents never spoke about
their birthplace or African American history in general. While on the trip, I conversed with
various individuals, including family members, legal officials, archivists, activists, and
churchgoers. The trip also involved site visits and archival work, such as looking through
pictures of relatives, legal documents about slavery and property, and several detailed
personal diaries. This process was overwhelming yet profoundly connecting. 

     Through art, I found my connection to my heritage and a modality to share it with
others. My paintings document, explore, and commune with my heritage through an
explosive assemblage of styles and techniques, primarily figurative with elements of
abstraction. You might find painted portraits, photos, historical documents, cheesecloth,
shells, oils, acrylics, varnish, and pastels within any one piece. My signature style includes
painting on Tarpaper. Self-taught, my work is influenced by numerous artists, including
Romare Bearden, Van Gogh, Matisse, Jackson Pollock, and Basquiat. I also studied portrait
painting at The Art Students League of New York under John Howard Sanden and at
​The Art Students League of Houston, Texas, was experimenting with self-taught techniques.

     I have exhibited in many galleries in the United States, Europe, and India. Furthermore,
I have also been commissioned to paint murals for various institutions and clients. However,
my favorite to date was painting a series on the history of the “Untouchables” (i.e., Dalits and
Harijans) for a museum in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. 
     I have received various awards from different exhibits, such as curator Faith Ringgold.
At the age of 85, I continue to work on numerous series. I am writing my memoirs and have
begun combining poetry with some of my paintings. Enjoying the journey of self-discovery
and artistic expression, I continue to evolve as an artist. My work is a testament to my
perseverance and patience, embodied in Ndidi. As I look to the future, I am excited to
explore new media and techniques, always striving to push the boundaries of my creativity.
My goal is to inspire others through my art, sharing the rich tapestry of my heritage and the
​stories that have shaped me.

Thanks for visiting

Juliet (“Ndidi”)