Meet Jae Gilyard | Creatress & Storyteller

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jae Gilyard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jae, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
On a personal level, I pursued a creative career because I can’t not create. It’s how I process the world. I see the artistry in everything—from sound design to fashion, from the texture of a shot to the cadence of dialogue. I venerate stories the way I venerate my ancestors. For me, storytelling is a responsibility, a calling, and a form of resistance. It’s how revolution manifests in me.

I feel commissioned to create, called to it, no matter the medium. And when I don’t honor that call, things don’t feel right—around me or within my spirit. Saying yes to this “commission,” as I like to call it, is no easy path. It demands sacrifice and healing, a spiritual polishing, shaping me in ways that will ultimately allow my storytelling to reach levels I haven’t even considered.

There is purpose in telling my stories, whether through creative direction, film, scripts, or oration. Each story I bring forth is part of something greater—an offering, a reckoning, a bridge between the past, present, and future. If I had to sum it up? I pursued a creative career because I was born to tell stories that matter—Spirit called me to do so.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Free The Bold – Art House has taken many forms before becoming what she is today. It all started nearly two decades ago when I launched my own design firm after being laid off from my first job out of undergrad. It was tough, but I had a community that lifted me up—sending leads, offering support, and speaking my name in rooms I wasn’t in. That foundation of resilience and collaboration shaped everything that came after.

Today, Free The Bold is a creative hub where ideas come to life. I believe in honoring my creativity in whatever form she chooses to take, which is why Free The Bold isn’t just about filmmaking—it’s a space where film, creative direction, product design, and more can incubate and be brought into the world. It’s a creative intersection, a place where stories unfold across multiple mediums.

I’ve been on this journey for a while, and one thing I’ve learned is that everyone is climbing a mountain. Rest when you need to, but don’t stop—keep going. My current climb is in filmmaking, an industry that isn’t always built for bold, experimental, and deeply spiritual Black storytelling. I’ve faced resistance—stories labeled as “too specific” (as if specificity isn’t the root of all great art) and moments of doubt, which are both natural and necessary. Keep going.

Be Free. Be Bold.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is tough because, honestly, my Lovers have the most fun when we’re simply sitting around in conversation—laughing, debating, and getting into deep, soulful discussions.

One of my Lovers, Osha McCall, created a game called CONTROVERSY: The Game of Intention, a question game designed to help you connect with yourself and the people you play with on a deeper level. That’s our vibe. Playing music, singing, dancing, and drinking wine in the house. Sometimes, we dedicate entire days to creating together, just letting ideas flow and seeing what magic we come up with.

Sure, we love tasting menus, museums, and thrift stores, but we love being in community, being present with each other, and truly connecting. That’s what brings us joy.

Please note: Lover is a euphemism for friend. People don’t romance their friends enough, but I do!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Everybody Black.

Blackness, the Black experience, and everything birthed from it deserves its flowers—always. And Blackness will always get them from me, especially Black women. They are the architects of everything cool, the blueprint, the origin, and yet, they rarely receive their just due. But not on my watch.

So, let me give the biggest shout-out to Black women—ALL Black women. Without your fly, there would be no me. Without your rhythm, what’s a beat for? Without your wisdom, I would know nothing.

And to the Black women in my life—thank you. For keeping me on my square, for encouraging me, for keeping me focused, for inspiring me. Been about you. Still about you. Always about you.

Website: freethebold

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/writtenbyjae/