About

JESHAKA (pronounced Jes-Ha-Ka), aka Jes LaVecchia (she/her), is a mixed media artist, Reiki Master & Pittsburgh native living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. From digital illustrations & acrylic paintings, to terrariums, comics and more; her body of work explores & celebrates the gift of the human experience through a whole lot of hotdogs.

Jes has been an artist since she could hold a crayon but didn’t begin her artistic career until graduating from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh with a Graphic Design degree in 2009. From there she let an amazing group of creative friends, internet culture and shows like Adventure Time influence & shape her style. In 2013, a dark, impish, triangle-head creature called “WUT” emerged in Jes’ artwork that helped express her difficulties grappling with her own humanity. As she traversed her own healing journey over the years, eventually hotdogs took center stage to spread silly joy & help share the wisdom Jes gained along the way. In 2024, Jes received the lifetime title of Hotdog Ambassador by the National Hotdog & Sausage Council and her future pursuits lie in connecting & making art for the hotdog community across the US & beyond.

JESHAKA has shown her art in galleries across the US and worked with clients such as the American Lore Theatre, Urban Outfitters, Healthy Ride & Converse. Her roots are in the DIY scene, selling the majority of her work at local markets & zine fests, because connecting with her audience on a personal level and making her art available to all is where she finds value.

FAQ’s

Why are they called WUT’s? Memes and they usually make you say or think to yourself “WTF?” when you see what they’re up to. They’re a life force all their own: Triangles represent manifestation, enlightenment, revelation, and a higher perspective. They are often used to mark the cycles of growth that lead to a higher state of being.

What’s with the hot dogs? Hotdogs are the quintessential embodiment of what it means to be American: horrifying, delicious, hilarious, revolting and everything in-between. Hotdogs are as versatile and diverse as we are and can serve as a mirror to what we really are: just weird meat stuffs in a fleshy suit here to be loved.

Interested in a commission or have other inquiries? Please contact JESHAKA via the website submission form, email or DM on Instagram.