A woman with dark curly hair smiling and holding a microphone in front of abstract paintings in an art gallery.

Rajae JACKSON

People mingling at a social event with arranged tables and vibrant decor.

STRATEGIST

Curator

FOUNDER, Red Pen Consulting

Working At The Intersection Of Art, Culture, and Community

Rajae Jackson is a creative strategist, curator, native Washingtonian, and the founder of Red Pen Consulting, a creative strategy and cultural consulting firm dedicated to helping artists, creatives, collectors, and purpose-driven brands clarify their vision, build their positioning, and connect with the audiences that matter most. Rooted in the belief that creativity is not a luxury but a livelihood, Red Pen serves as a partner in purpose — meeting artists, collectors, and creative entrepreneurs wherever they are and helping them build something that lasts.

Woman standing outdoors in front of a white fabric backdrop, wearing a red top and black voluminous skirt, smiling, with lush greenery visible behind the backdrop.
A person with curly dark hair wearing a cream T-shirt and black and red pants, standing barefoot on grass in front of a white backdrop.
A woman with curly hair wearing a red sweater and black skirt sits in front of a white curtain set outdoors. A small white table with a laptop, stationery, and stickers is in front of her, and various supplies are on the ground. Trees are visible behind the curtain.
A woman standing outdoors in front of a white backdrop, wearing a white T-shirt with red text, a red skirt, cowboy boots, and accessories, with trees and grass surrounding her.
A woman with curly hair sitting in a modern chair in a room decorated with framed art and photographs on a wall behind her, wearing a white shirt and a black skirt, with a patterned carpet on the floor.

Her path into this work was shaped as much by community as by craft. While serving as a Community Engagement Liaison at Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative, Rajae encountered the kind of brilliance that exists without recognition — not for lack of talent, but lack of access. That realization led her to conceptualize Art On The Rise, a multidisciplinary art exhibition and experience she founded to position Ward 7 and 8 artists before funders, collectors, and art enthusiasts. What began as a question — what if we put local artists in front of funders? — grew into a three-year annual initiative that generated tens of thousands of dollars in artist income, earned press coverage from NBC Washington, WHUR, and The Washington Post, and built lasting connections between residents, collectors, and the broader arts community. It reaffirmed what she had always believed: that our stories and skills have the power to sustain us.

A woman in a pink and black striped dress standing on a wooden staircase with a painting on the wall behind her.

At The Core Of Rajae’s Practice Is A Search For The Point Of Intersection — The Place Where Seemingly Unrelated Ideas, People, And Stories Reveal What They Share.

Three people sitting on chairs, participating in a panel discussion or interview, with microphones in hand, against a white wall with photographs of sneakers.
People standing outdoors at an art exhibition, including a woman in a white dress and sunglasses, surrounding a yellow sign that reads 'This Is Us' with a description of honoring Black culture and history. There is a stage with bright lights in the background, and several other visitors are visible.

She is not after the narrative that speaks only to some; she is after the thread of humanity that runs through all of it. Her work centers storytelling as strategy, aligning identity, audience, and execution in ways that are emotionally resonant and built to endure. Her love of inquiry, nuance, and people — her people, specifically — are what drive her.

A young woman with dark hair and wearing a white tank top and beige pants is sitting on a cream-colored chair in a living room. Behind her is a dark wall with a lamp, a record player, and framed photos, including one of a colorful parade and one of a birthday celebration.

For Rajae, the story has always been the strategy, and the strategy has always been the story.