Photo: Karen Santos Photography

 
 

Rooted in passion.

About

Jillian Knox is an interdisciplinary artist and creative polymath whose work lives at the intersection of food, culture, and memory. Originally from Washington, DC and now based in beautiful San Francisco, she brings an instinctual finesse for visuals, and a reverence for storytelling to every project she touches.

A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Photography, Jillian spent a decade curating vintage fashion and home décor in her online store before channeling her eye for history and texture into the world of food, fashion, and prop styling. Her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, Southern Living, and Real Simple, and she has contributed to more than 14 acclaimed cookbooks. Her projects have earned James Beard Foundation Media Award recognition, and in 2022 she was named a Top Creator by Black Women in Food.

That same year, Jillian self-published her own cocktail book, Cocteles de Temporada, under her luxury homewares brand Casa Ojo, collaborating with chefs, bartenders, and spirit brands across the U.S. and Mexico.

Above all, Jillian is passionate about telling cultural stories through food and design. Creating lasting visual legacies that celebrate heritage, history, and everyday beauty are at the core of her pulse.

When she’s not on set, you’ll likely find her behind one of her film cameras somewhere in the world, capturing moments, collecting stories, and most importantly, celebrating life.

To see links, click HERE.

2023

  • Judge for Dine Diaspora Black Women in Food 2023

  • Diasporican (Illyanna Maisonet/Ten Speed Press) recipient of Emerging Voice Award 2023 James Beard Foundation

  • The Sweetest Harvest (Kayla Stewart/ Food & Wine Magazine) winner Profile 2023 James Beard Foundation

2022

  • Honoree for Dine Diaspora Black Women in Food 2022 (Creator category)

  • Black Food (Bryant Terry/4color Books) nominated for 2022 James Beard Media award (U.S. Foodways)

  • Black Food winner for Art of Eating Prize 2022

Honors | Press | Clients

  • Alexa Stark, Apostrophe, BRYR Clogs, CNET, Consistency Project, Curator SF, Evgenia Lingerie, Facebook, Fluevog Shoes, Gravel & Gold, Hadjio, Ilano Design, J'AMY TARR, Kim + Ono, Land Rover, Levis, Mi Cocina/Ubi Ind., Mohinder Shoes, Our Place, Our Second Nature, Pink Dolphin Clothing, Willow Pump, Xfinity, Zelma Rose

  • Bryant Terry, CUESA, Diaspora Co., Fauna Restaurante, MIXT, Split, Muffin Revolution, Nuthouse Granola, Odd Bagel, Peet’s Coffee, PieTisserie, Popoca, Ramen Hero, Reem's California, Rombauer Vineyards, Voila! Juice, Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen

  • Amy Dabalos, Daghe, Julia Harriman, KIN, Zyles Music

  • Arthur Martinot, Bone & Gold, Caruso Co., CBS Interactive, French Press Films, Jo Ko, Lockbox Productions, Matatu, McCalman Co.

  • Americanized (film short), Made From Scratch (Fuse TV), Paper Birds (film short)

  • Anastasiia Sapon, Andria Lo, Aubrie Pick, Aya Watada, Daniel Dent, Erica Eng, Karen Santos, Kelly Marshall, Maren Caruso, Maria Del Rio, Nader Khouri, Nicole Morrison, Oriana Koren, Peggy Peralta, Sana Javeri Kadri

  • Biased Cuts: S1 E11 (podcast), Creative Mean, Going Legit (podcast), In_ Conversation (Podcast - South Africa), Focus On Women (Podcast), Pineapple Collaborative, The Ruby, Transterritorial Citizenship special guest (Mexico City).

    • 2020 Recipient of San Francisco Arts and Artists Relief Fund grant from Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), made possible by the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC), and Grants for the Arts (GFTA) under the direction of Mayor London Breed.

    • 2016 Accepted to fill 1/200 slots in Fashion Styling: Mastered accelerator for the class of 2017

    • 2012 Worked with Intuit Inc. on product testing for new iPhone app, was featured in online commercials, and several on-camera interviews; including an interview with Valerie Coleman Morris, former CNN anchor.

    • 2011 Honored as one of Chicago's newest female entrepreneurs on the rise during the Diva “Artista” Series event by Maven Chicago and Today's Chicago Woman Magazine.

    • 2010 Featured in Time Out Chicago Magazine as a vintage vendor on the rise for Joules Jewels Vintage.