My artistic practice extends beyond the studio through exhibitions, teaching, live painting, public presentations, cultural events and community engagement. These experiences reflect a commitment to sharing art and ideas with diverse audiences while building connections across art, music, culture, education and spirituality.
Detroit Abloom on the East Side of Detroit, Michigan 2026
With Detroit Abloom owner Tom Milano following the completion of my commissioned Garden of Eden mural on Detroit’s east side.
Showing my Vernor’s art at the Vernor’s 160th Anniversary in Eastern Market Detroit, 2026
Artwork created in celebration of the 160th anniversary of Vernors and exhibited at the historic Henry the Hatter in Detroit’s Eastern Market. The project reimagined the familiar Vernors gnome for contemporary Detroit, transforming two vintage metal Vernors signs with updated imagery, clothing and references to the city while preserving the character and spirit of the original mascot.
The works were commissioned by Keith Hays of Plaza Antiques & Collectibles in Lincoln Park, Michigan, who collaborated on the concept and is pictured here with the artist during the anniversary celebration.
Solanus Casey Center & The Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Detroit, Michigan, 2020
Photographed upon the delivery of this commissioned portrait of Blessed Solanus Casey to St. Bonaventure Monastery in Detroit, home of the Solanus Casey Center. The painting was displayed for approximately six months near the relics of the beatified Capuchin friar before being permanently relocated to the nearby Capuchin Soup Kitchen, continuing the work’s connection to Father Solanus Casey’s legacy of service, compassion and care for Detroit’s poor.
Published in the UK!
Global Rastafari HeART Book Volumes 1,2&3!
Between 2023 and 2024, Jeremy Johnson-LeMieux (Jah Sunny) was published three times in UK-based projects celebrating artists whose work has been influenced by Rastafari culture, history, spirituality, and visual traditions. Organized through the efforts of King Jahsiah, the publications bring together the work of artists from around the world, creating an international record of contemporary Rastafari-inspired art.
Support from the Fairfield House in Bath England, 2020
In 2020, work was included in an exhibition at Fairfield House in Bath, England, the residence of Emperor Haile Selassie I during his exile following the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in the 1930s. Artworks and stickers were also donated to support fundraising efforts for the preservation and continued care of this important historic site.
Fairfield House holds a unique place in Ethiopian, Rastafari, and local British history, preserving the legacy of Haile Selassie and his years in Bath.
Teaching Art
I teach Figure Drawing and Portrait Art at the Northville Art House in Northville and the Downriver Council for the Arts in Wyandotte, Michigan. I develop my own curriculum combining lectures, visual presentations, demonstrations and hands-on instruction in anatomy, proportion, composition and observational drawing. Working with live models, I guide students of varying experience levels through both traditional techniques and practical approaches developed through my own years as a figurative and portrait artist.
False Idols Exhibition, Office Space Gallery, Detroit, Michigan, 2026
Four works were selected through a juried process for False Idols, a group exhibition at Office Space Gallery in Detroit exploring idolatry and our relationships with money, religion, politics, power and belief. The exhibition brought together a wide range of artistic interpretations of what individuals and societies elevate, worship or place their faith in. My selected works approached the theme from another perspective, presenting figures and symbols that some might regard as false idols, but which I see as pointing beyond themselves toward deeper spiritual realities.
Live Painting at Dub Supreme, Motor City Wine, Detroit, Michigan, 2026
Live painting at Dub Supreme, an all-vinyl reggae and dub event at Motor City Wine in Detroit. Rooted in Jamaican sound system tradition, the event features selectors spinning vinyl alongside live MCs and toasters, creating a constantly evolving musical experience.
The painting was created throughout the event and auctioned live at the end of the evening. Pictured here with the collector who purchased the finished work. Dub Supreme brings together a diverse crowd from across Metro Detroit through reggae music, visual art and sound system culture.
Skeletons Are Alive, Downtown Northville, Michigan, 2025
Exhibited and sold original artwork during the 2025 Skeletons Are Alive celebration in downtown Northville, while live drawing for visitors along Main Street. The annual Halloween event transforms downtown with elaborate skeleton displays, costumes, entertainment and seasonal festivities, providing an opportunity to create and share artwork directly with the community.
RAW Artists Exhibition, St. Andrews Hall, Detroit, Michigan, 2018
Selected through a juried process to exhibit artwork with RAW Artists, an international independent arts organization showcasing emerging talent across visual art, music, film, fashion, photography and performance. The Detroit exhibition brought together artists from across disciplines for an evening of contemporary art and live creative performances.
Dally in the Alley, Detroit, 2019
Exhibited and sold artwork at Dally in the Alley, one of Detroit’s longest-running community arts and music festivals. Held in the Cass Corridor near Wayne State University, the annual festival brings together visual art, live music, performance, food, and Detroit’s creative community.
Palmer Park Art Fair, Featured Artist, Detroit, Michigan, 2019
Selected as a Featured Artist for the 2019 Palmer Park Art Fair in Detroit, where original artwork was exhibited and sold during the annual outdoor arts festival. The event also featured the work in its promotional campaign, highlighting Sunny’s art.
Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle in Detroit, 2016
Selected to exhibit and sell artwork at the Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle. During the event, members of the Andretti Autosport team signed the reverse of a portrait of racing legend Mario Andretti. Signatures included Mario Andretti, members of his family and racing team, and Andretti Autosport driver and 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi. The signed portrait became a unique memento connecting the artwork with Detroit’s celebrated automotive and racing culture.
Great Lakes Crossing Mall, Auburn Hills, Michigan, 2019
Exhibited and sold artwork during the Christmas season at Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills, Michigan, while creating on the spot portrait commissions for holiday shoppers, often completed in approximately 30 minutes.
The appearance led to several larger private commissions, including a series of murals created for a residence in Pontiac, Michigan.
Golden Lotus School of Yoga, Vanderbilt, Michigan, 2021
I was commissioned to redesign the logo of the Golden Lotus Yoga Teachers Association (GLYTA), the school through which I received my yoga teacher training. The new design replaced the organization’s previous logo after approximately 45 years of use. Founded by Yogacharya Oliver Black in 1976, GLYTA traces its roots to Detroit’s early yoga community and Black’s studies with Paramahansa Yogananda beginning in the 1930s. The school is affiliated with Song of the Morning Yoga Retreat in Vanderbilt, Michigan.
Painting Black Light Murals in a Meditation Room, Atlanta, Michigan, 2022
Black Light Mural for Earthbound Remedies, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2020
Commissioned to design and paint an immersive mural for the lobby of Earthbound Remedies, a health and wellness company in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The panoramic composition moves from a walk through a wooded park into downtown Ann Arbor and along Liberty Street, with the city unfolding beneath a vibrant cosmic sky. The mural was created with UV-reactive pigments, transforming the lobby environment when illuminated under black light.
David Hinds of Steel Pulse signs skateboard, 2017
David Hinds, lead singer and founding member of the legendary British roots reggae band Steel Pulse, signing an original hand-painted skateboard featuring his likeness. The portrait depicts Hinds during the early 1980s and was designed specifically around the elongated shape of the skateboard deck.
Hinds signed and inscribed the artwork during the meeting, transforming the piece into a unique collaboration between artist and subject.
Gifting Art to Grammy Nominated Singer Etana, Kola Lounge, Farmington Hills, Michigan, 2020
Sunny regularly exhibited and sold artwork at live music events at Kola Lounge in Farmington Hills, Michigan. During an appearance by Grammy-nominated Jamaican reggae singer Etana, an original portrait created in her honor was presented to her following the performance.
The encounter was part of an ongoing connection between the visual art practice and Jamaican and reggae music culture.
Gifting Art to Legendary Reggae Artist Cocoa Tea, Kola Lounge, Farmington Hills, Michigan, 2020
Sunny regularly exhibited and sold artwork during live music events at Kola Lounge in Farmington Hills, Michigan. During an appearance by legendary Jamaican reggae singer Cocoa Tea, an original portrait created in his honor was personally presented to him following the show.
The encounter was one of several opportunities to connect the visual art practice directly with influential figures in Jamaican music and reggae culture.
Meeting HR of the Legendary Punk Band Bad Brains
I had the opportunity to meet one of my musical heroes while vending artwork at an HR performance at The Loving Touch in Ferndale, Michigan. HR, legendary vocalist of the pioneering punk and hardcore band Bad Brains, spent time looking through my display before I presented him with a T-shirt featuring an original portrait I had created of him.
Gifting Art to Legendary Reggae Artist Freddie McGregor, 2019
While regularly exhibiting and selling artwork at live music events at Kola Lounge, an original portrait was presented to legendary Jamaican reggae singer Freddie McGregor following one of his performances. The two spent time talking aboard his tour bus and discovered that they share the same birthday.
The meeting was another memorable connection between the visual art practice and the Jamaican musicians who have long influenced it.
European Art, History & Sacred Places
Over the past several years, I have spent months traveling through Western Europe, seeking out places connected to the history, mysticism and devotional art that inspire my creative practice. My travels have taken me throughout Spain, including Andalucía, Valencia, Barcelona and the Basque Country, as well as to the cave and relics associated with Mary Magdalene at Sainte-Baume and Saint-Maximin in France. Glastonbury and other sites in England, Edinburgh and across Ireland from Dublin and Kildare to Galway, Kerry and Clare. Experiencing historic artworks, sacred landscapes and centuries-old traditions in the places where they developed has become an important part of my continuing education and evolution as an artist.
Climbing Crough Patrick in County Mayo, Ireland 2025.
Solas Bhríd, Kildare, Ireland, 2026
Over several visits to Kildare, Ireland, I have had the pleasure of spending time with the Brigidine Sisters at Solas Bhríde, whose work carries the legacy of St. Brigid into the present through spirituality, global social justice, peace and environmental stewardship. My growing interest in Brigid has become an important part of my artistic and cultural exploration and I was honored to gift the sisters prints of my original artwork depicting the saint. Pictured here with members of the Brigidine community, including Sister Rita Minehan, author and scholar of St. Brigid, whose warm welcome over the years has made this an especially meaningful connection.
St Brigid’s Day Presentation, Gaelic League of Detroit 2026
I presented a well attended St. Brigid’s Day program at the Gaelic League of Detroit exploring the history, legends, traditions and enduring legacy of Ireland’s beloved saint. The presentation included a slideshow documenting my travels across Ireland to places associated with Brigid, including her birthplace at Faughart, sacred wells and Kildare, the center of her ministry, followed by a hands-on demonstration teaching guests how to weave the traditional St. Brigid’s Cross from reeds. Traditional Irish music and food rounded out an evening celebrating Brigid and the living culture surrounding her.
Leading Spiritual Retreats
My background in spiritual practice includes many years of meditation and yoga, certification as a yoga instructor through the Golden Lotus Yoga Teachers Association and a year serving as Program Coordinator at Song of the Morning Yoga Retreat. Since then, I have co-facilitated several spiritual retreats with Shannon Lynn Smith, a yoga teacher, healer and Magdalene Priestess, incorporating meditation, yoga, contemplation and spiritual exploration. Our retreats have focused on bringing practical spirituality into modern life and helping participants integrate contemplative practices into their everyday experience.
Photo of attendees at our Branches of Yoga Retreat at Song of the Morning in Vanderbilt, Michigan, 2024.
Paramahansa Yogananda & St. Teresa of Ávila Discussion at The Lighthouse Center, Whitmore Lake, Michigan, 2025
I presented a multimedia program at the Lighthouse Center exploring the remarkable parallels between Indian yogi Paramahansa Yogananda and Spanish Christian mystic St. Teresa of Ávila. Through a slideshow, presentation and group discussion, we examined similarities in their lives, mystical ecstasies, spiritual teachings and conclusions about the nature of consciousness and ultimate reality. The program concluded with a guided meditation drawing upon the contemplative traditions represented by these two mystics.
The Influence of Detroit
The amazing, cultured, industrious, creative, hard edged and lion hearted people of Detroit have been a profound influence on my life and my art. My family has roots in and around the city going back to the 1920s, and I feel a deep connection to Detroit, its history, its spirituality and its creative communities.
Pictured here are Negus Arubis and Jah Pancho, two powerful voices of African-centered wisdom, culture and community in Detroit. I’m grateful for their friendship and for the many people like them whose knowledge, creativity and spirit have influenced my journey.
Kulture Klub in SW Detroit
A longtime supporter of both Sunny’s visual art and music practice, the Kulture Klub has provided a creative home and community connection in Detroit for many years. Curated by Sandura Nur and Jah Pancho, the multicultural community space brings together art, music, education, cultural programming and service to the surrounding neighborhood.
Over the years, the Kulture Klub has provided opportunities to exhibit artwork, participate in cultural events, and remain connected to Detroit’s grassroots creative community.
Trail Sign Painting at Song of the Morning, Vanderbilt, Michigan, 2026
Contributing art and hand painted signage to the trails at Song of the Morning Yoga & Meditation Retreat in Northern Michigan. Created as part of ongoing work and service at the retreat, the signs help identify and guide visitors through the wooded trails and spiritual landscape of the property.
Art Class in the Hills of Jamaica
While spending time in St. D’Acre, a small community in the hills of St. Ann Parish, Jamaica, I had the opportunity to share an informal art lesson with a group of local children who had become good friends. Years later, one of those young artists, Markash, pictured here in the red shorts, went on to become a lawyer and community leader in Jamaica.
I arrived hoping to share something through art, but these kids gave just as much back to me. Their friendship, energy and openness remain a special memory from my time in Jamaica.
Commissioned and Gifted to a Friend
Commissioned portraits are often created as meaningful gifts, connecting the artwork with the people and musicians who inspire those who commission it. This portrait of Jamaican vocalist Shanty Plus was commissioned by a client and personally presented to the artist as a gift.
Happy Customer Picking Up Her Commission
Photo of happy customer picking up her commission of Mick Jagger when i was vending my art at the Old West Side Art Hop in Ann Arbor MI.
I am available for exhibitions, art instruction, workshops, live painting, presentations, cultural programming and creative events. I welcome opportunities to collaborate with galleries, schools, community organizations, cultural institutions and other creative spaces.
Have an event, program or opportunity in mind? Get in touch!