Life & Work with Jarrel Phillips of San Francisco

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jarrel Phillips.

Hi Jarrel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in the Fillmore district of San Francisco, a neighborhood once known as the “Harlem of the West” for its vibrant Black community and rich arts scene. My early life was shaped by the creative energy around me, especially through my mom, who has always been the family archivist. She’s always had a camera, capturing moments and preserving memories—thousands of photos! By my teenage years, I was already taking photos with disposable cameras. My mom and her twin sister, Auntie Gina, enrolled me and my cousin in a video class during high school, and that’s where I first started exploring film.
But it wasn’t just about visual arts. My parents also enrolled me and my brothers in a program at the African-American Art and Culture Complex called Wajumbe, which means “relatives” or “messengers” in Kiswahili. This is where I was first introduced to Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art that blends dance, acrobatics, and music. It became a defining part of my life. Through Wajumbe, I connected with my African heritage and learned about African history, storytelling, and different forms of dance and music, including Capoeira. The program not only deepened my cultural understanding but also ignited my passion for movement and performance. I still train with the same capoeira teacher (Mestre Urubu Malandro) from when I was a child.
Now, Capoeira has been a key part of my life’s work up until now. I teach the youth, perform. I also travel around the African diaspora, documenting my experiences as I learn and explore so that I can share them with others. In doing so, I make short films, presentations, oral history projects, and curate mixed media exhibitions that highlight my photography from the SF Bay Area to East Africa and beyond. This medium was introduced to me by my mom’s brother, Uncle Kheven. He got me into doing exhibitions. He would let me design fliers for his shows and get me involved. He also writes for papers and scripts for theatre shows. I also write and have published pieces and oral history projects, exploring and documenting Black history in San Francisco. I’ve come full circle, doing my best to give back to the community and the youth just as I was given opportunities growing up. It feels like all the seeds planted in my childhood—photography, performance, writing, and cultural exploration—have come back in my adulthood. And, I know there’s more, so I’m currently exploring new avenues, including youth coaching and rites of passage work. I just received my masters in East-West Psychology and I’m apply for my PhD. You can see my work and more on my website, avesidea.com.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a little bit of both. As I previously mentioned, seeds were planted by my parents before I even knew it. I just had to exercise consistency, live modestly/humble, and remain focused on my goals. The sad thing is I did not spend a lot of time tending to other sides of my life because I was so busy grinding. One of the things I have given more focus to is family. Prior to the pandemic, I was always busy. I traveled out of the country at least 1-2 months out of the year for a solid decade; completed my bachelors, and I trained 2-5 days a week (capoeira and sometimes acrobatics). It cost money I didn’t always have and a lot of sacrifice to build up my youth program and self. My parents also instilled in me the importance of mentors, so I always sought out support and advice from select individuals along my journey. The pandemic was one of the biggest humps so far. I thought I had lost everything. I lost a lot of students and some big opportunities that I had always aspired for. They could have potentially launched my business to another level, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be… for now. This reminded me to trust in the process, go with the flow, and believe in myself. No giving up. It also reminded me to appreciate all that I have been able to experience along the way. Since the shutdowns, I’ve been actively re-establishing my foundation by attempting to reconcile with those parts of my life that I had taken for granted, neglected and/or overlooked. Now, I’m trying to go with life’s flow, but with more intention. I just know I will keep working with youth and families, learning and teaching capoeira, and taking my artistry to new levels.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a San Francisco-based multimedia artist and capoeira practitioner and teacher who captures, investigates, and explores dynamic narratives through photography, film, the written word, and performance. Through my work I explore themes of identity, power, consciousness, social and psycho-spiritual development and transformation, heritage, and community values and education, with a significant emphasis on the African diaspora alongside a broader lens on human experience.
I am an educator, curator, capoeira teacher, documentarian, and visual storyteller whose work spans photography, film, performance, writing, and journalism. My practice centers on preserving and sharing the stories of the African diaspora, exploring the concept of “living folklore”—the ongoing cultivation of traditions, customs, and beliefs that shape our identities and connect us across time and space. I explore how culture, heritage, and community influence personal and collective transformation. These have also been themes within my academic journey. I have a with a B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development and a Master’s in East-West Psychology.
I am also a native of San Francisco and avid traveler. My travels include Ethiopia, Egypt, Tanzania, Haiti, Ghana, Jamaica, Brazil, Uganda, Korea, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, India, Philippines, United Kingdom, Germany, and Switzerland.

I have 24 years of experience mentoring youth across diverse communities, from San Francisco to East Africa. As an educator, I teache through both formal and informal channels—guiding students and communities in embracing their heritage, exploring their creative potential, and engaging in meaningful dialogue. Whether in the classroom, through exhibitions, or in workshops, my work encourages individuals to connect with their bodies, cultivate community and healthy relationships, explore their roots, and shape their own stories for the future.

Links to writings:
A Traveler’s Mind
https://openspace.sfmoma.org/2020/10/a-travelers-mind/

In Solitude & Solidarity
https://arrow-journal.org/in-solitude-and-solidarity/

Links to videos
Cayuga: Underground Circus SF
https://vimeo.com/998559746/43d4637c42

2min Capoeira short film featuring Jarrel Phillips by SF MOMA
https://openspace.sfmoma.org/2016/11/when-we-move/

Clubhouse Capoeira (working with the youth in the Fillmore)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtseXO7AKYQ

Zanzibar Stonetown Capoeira Project
https://avesidea.com/zanzibar-stone-town-capoeira-project/

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Creativity
Curiosity
Discipline
Drive
Will
Fortitude
Perseverance
Principle
Morals
Compassion
Authenticity
Culture
Dedication
Young at heart
Play
Passion
Care
Listening
Sharing
Learning

Flexible
Grounded
True

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.avesidea.com
• Instagram: @jarrelmp
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarrelphillips

Image Credits
The main photo with the white background is by RJ Muna. All others are by me.