LOS ANGELES, CA, Communities in Los Angeles and Portsmouth are mourning the passing of acclaimed artist and University of California, Los Angeles graduate Jasmine Little, who died this weekend at the age of 41.
Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1984, Little built a respected career that connected both coasts and reached international audiences. While deeply rooted in her Virginia upbringing, she primarily lived and worked in Los Angeles, where she became a recognized voice in the contemporary art community.
Little earned her Bachelor’s degree in Art from UCLA in 2007. During her studies, she worked closely with painter Roger Herman, whose expressive techniques influenced her artistic direction. She also studied at Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree, California, and Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado.
Her work received national and international recognition. International exhibitions included Foundation Thalie in Brussels, Lefebvre & Fils in Paris, Galerie Dumonteil in Shanghai, and HangART-7 in Austria. In the United States, her art was presented at Night Gallery, Nina Johnson, and Deitch Projects, where it was featured in the 2021 survey exhibition Clay Pop.
Little’s artwork is included in several prominent permanent collections, such as the Smithsonian Archives of American Art, the Pérez Art Museum Miami, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Nevada Museum of Art, and the Georgia Museum of Art. Her presence in these institutions reflected the cultural importance of her contributions to contemporary art.
She was known for exploring form, material, and emotional depth in her work, earning admiration from collectors, curators, and fellow artists. Maintaining a presence in both Los Angeles and Alamosa, Colorado, she developed a creative perspective shaped by her experiences in multiple communities.
News of her passing has prompted tributes from across the art world. Friends and colleagues remember her for her artistic vision, generosity, and dedication to her craft.
As Portsmouth honors a native daughter and Los Angeles reflects on the loss of a creative force, Jasmine Little’s legacy continues through the galleries, museums, and collections that preserve her work and through the influence she leaves on contemporary art.
