Exhibited at Montpelier Arts Center in 2026, The Light We Carry is a portrait series that explores ancestry, identity, and inherited memory through representations of everyday people, honoring them with the reverence often reserved for saints, royalty, and historical figures. Using vibrant color, layered pattern, gold leaf, textiles, and beaded embroidery as a visual language, Janay reflects on the richness of cultural inheritance and the ways memory is carried across generations. The exhibition invites viewers to slow down, recognize the beauty, dignity, and presence of each individual, and reflect on the enduring connections that shape who we are and the light we carry forward.