About Art.is
About Me
Artis Jones (ART.is) is a DC-born, Suitland-raised author, public speaker, poet, DJ, and event curator whose work centers on creativity, culture, and community empowerment. Since 2018, he has built a dynamic presence across the DMV arts scene—founding Art is Positive Empowerment (AiPE) in 2020 and producing over 100+ events that uplift emerging artists and bring communities together.
Artis is the visionary behind the SECAB Festival, the long-running Release Open Mic (celebrating 4 years), and multiple youth and community programs. His leadership and impact earned him a nomination as a 2025 Mayor’s Arts Awards Emerging Creative, one of DC’s top recognitions for rising arts innovators.
As a performer, he has been featured at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, Art All Night Congress Heights, Atlas Intersections Festival, Takoma Park Festival, Melanin Hues, the Poet Life Festival, and the Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival. He is also a Busboys and Poets Open Mic Host, a two-time DMV Renaissance Haikuist of the Year nominee, and a multi-disciplinary creative known for blending storytelling and sound.
Through poetry, music, and event curation, Artis pushes forward a mission rooted in intention and impact.
His guiding motto remains: “Doors open when you walk in your intention.”
DJ ARTis the Experience
Known for his unmatched ear for melodies, transitions, and crowd energy, DJ ART.is turns every set into a full-body experience. His blend of R&B, hip-hop, 90s nostalgia, Go-Go, Afro-soul, house, and global rhythms transforms listeners into fans of both the artist and the DJ.
Since stepping onto the scene in 2018, Art.is has grown into one of DC’s most versatile creatives — a 2025 Mayor’s Arts Awards Emerging Creative nominee, poet, curator, and host. What began behind the turntables expanded when he was invited to share his poetry, revealing a second voice and a deeper connection with audiences.
Today, DJ ART.is delivers intentional, high-impact vibes across corporate events, festivals, open mics, nightlife, and community stages. From Smithsonian performances to DC Art All Night, SECAB, Busboys and Poets, and 100+ events across the DMV, his sets guarantee atmosphere, emotion, and unforgettable moments — no matter the occasion.
Art.is Poet
ART.is is a DC-born poet whose work centers on intentional release—helping audiences confront the emotions, truths, and memories that shape their fullest potential. Known for his sharp, city-rooted haiku style, he delivers moments that shock, heal, or spark reflection in just a few words.
A standout voice in the DMV, ART.is has shared his work on major stages, including the Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival, Poet Life Fest, Art All Night, and multiple features at Busboys and Poets, where he now serves as an Open Mic Host. He is a two-time DMV Renaissance Award nominee for Haikuist of the Year (2022 & 2023) and a graduate of the 202Creates Creative Residency Cohort (Spring 2023).
Today, ART.is continues to build platforms for emerging voices across the region, curating experiences that uplift community and celebrate the power of storytelling.
ART.is Mantra
What comes next Is exposure for the lit and gifted
Talent exposed to talent evolving ,creating, inspiring
New ideas, new creations, necessary connections
Pouring healing rivers, show sight of life different than ever witnessed, motivating to take action against procrastination, leaning into creation itself.
Manifesting only what you can from inside
I am a guide in this
To energize the spirit of the artist
As it is always against itself in criticism
I SHALL NOT!
As CAN'T is removed from vocabulary
I shall let my working and experiences swell in the uncharted arts - ART.is Mantra