Rhonda Shelford Jansen

Medium: Painting, Photography

Rhonda Shelford Jansen (Sugpiaq and Unangax̂), is best known for her paintings representing Alaska Native culture and coastal life in Alaska. She was born and raised on Dena’ina Ełnena (Homer) and spent years in Unangam Tanangin and Qik’rtaq (Unalaska and Kodiak). Rhonda now resides on the land of the Coast Salish peoples (PNW) with her husband and spends much time at their property in Homer and visiting family and doing art in Anchorage.

Her work is inspired by her cultural heritage, reflecting the beauty, ingenuity, and resilience of Alaska Native peoples. Her work is also heavily influenced by her life on the water, her family’s lineage in the commercial fishing industry in Alaska, and her interest in history and cultural regeneration. In her paintings, she uses oils, acrylic, and watercolor to create soft, natural scenes with rugged coastlines, waves, and mountains.

Rhonda has painted since childhood and her early interest in art was fostered by her grandmother Lydia Resoff Shelford of Ninilchik (Sugpiaq and Unangax̂). She also studied under artist Toby Tyler of Homer, Alaska, and at the University of Washington. She has taught art to youth, illustrated five books, and has been featured in national and local art shows in Alaska and Washington as well as in digital and print media.