J. R. Welch
Writer • Artist • Photographer
Witnessing life from the Bootheel to New Orleans
Welcome
I am a son of the Mississippi River. My life and work are shaped by three places along its course: Hayti, Memphis, and New Orleans. From these waters, I carry stories of survival, discovery, and belonging.
Writing
The Mississippi River is my first language. Through poetry, essays, and memoir, I explore the landscapes, people, and cultural memory of the American South. My writing has appeared in Reckon Review, The Christian Century, Blueline, Queen's Review, and other literary journals. I was longlisted by Kristen Arnett for The
VISUAL ART
What the Delta Leaves
Paintings, drawings, and installations rooted in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. My work explores memory, place, and cultural identity, asking what landscapes remember, what history forgets, and how art can preserve the stories being erased.
Photography
Streets, Land, and People
Photographs exploring the landscapes, people, and cultural memory of the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. From Delta backroads to New Orleans streets, I document the places, traditions, and everyday moments that shape the American South.
Join Rooted & Refined Letters
Letters of prose and photographs, shaped by the textures of city streets, memory, and the mundane. It is an invitation to slow down, notice beauty, and discover beauty in unexpected places.
Contact Me
Questions or Comments?
Whether you're interested in the work, an exhibition, a reading, or a conversation, I would be glad to hear from you.
Copyright © 2026 J. R. Welch — Rooted & Refined™ - All Rights Reserved.
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