Watson Mere
Education:
2011 – BA, Business Administration, Florida A&M University
2015 – Master of Business Administration (MBA), Florida A&M University
Awards / Grants / Residencies:
2022 – New York Theater Festival - Most Creative Play - “The Fourth Alaafin of Oyo”
2022 – The Elizabeth Foundation For The Arts Studio Program Residency, New York City, NY
2021 – New York Foundation for the Arts - City Artist Corps Grant Recipient
2021 – The Other Art Fair – New Futures Recipient
2021 – Artist-in-Residence, Basquiat’s Bottle, Brooklyn, NY
2018 – Citation of Honor (Arts)– District Attorney of Kings County (Brooklyn, NY)
2018 – C-Suite Quarterly – NextGen 10 New York – Philanthropy, Art, & Culture
2018 – Creole Image Honors – Jean-Michel Basquiat Award
2018 – Tropicalfete – Award of Excellence
Galleries / Museums / Venues:
2023 – CultureLab LIC at The Plaxall Gallery, Long Island City, NY
2023 – Marcus Garvey Park Installation, Harlem, New York, NY
2023 – Heath Gallery, New York, NY
2023 – Westbeth Gallery, New York, NY
2023 – The African Center, Harlem, New York, NY
2022 – The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, New York, NY
2022 – Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
2022 – The Billie Holiday Theatre, Brooklyn, NY
2021, 2022 – The Untitled Space Gallery, New York, NY
2021 – The Living Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2021 – Calabar Gallery, New York, NY
2021 – Venice Art Gallery – Venice, Italy
2021 – Black Gotham Experience – New York, NY
2021 – Black Wall Street Gallery – SoHo, New York, NY
2020, 2021 – The Canvas - New York, NY
2020, 2021 – Fable Jones Studios - Brooklyn, NY
2020 – Norman Rea Gallery - York, United Kingdom
2019 – Weeksville Heritage Center - Brooklyn, NY
2019 – Remy Rouge Culture Center - Brooklyn, NY
2018, 2019 – SK.ArtSpace Gallery - Brooklyn, NY
2018, 2019 – Urban Art Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
Selected Solo Exhibitions:
2023 – “You Are The Myth” – Sponsored by Chashama – New York, NY – July 1st – July 28th
2023 – “Fwi Ayiti” – Lakou Café – Brooklyn, NY – May 1st – May 31st
2021 – “Aquarian Windows” – Basquiat's Bottle – Brooklyn, NY – September 9th – October 14th
2018 – “Good Morning” – Urban Art Gallery - Philadelphia, PA - November 1st – November 30th
2018 – “Art at Lakou” – Lakou Café - Brooklyn, NY - November 17th – December 1st
Selected Duo Exhibitions:
2023 – “Order and Balance” – African Peach Arts Coalition, Brooklyn, NY – September 22nd
2022 – “BLACK JOY” – Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY – June 16th
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2023 – Harlem Grown - Culture Creativity & Care Initiative - Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem, New York, NY – June 16th
2023 – “Caribbean Creatives” - Urban Art Gallery, Philadelphia, PA – June 10th
2023 – “Let Black Folks Feel” - Heath Gallery, Harlem, New York, NY – May 30th
2023 – “Across the Waters” - The Africa Center, Harlem, New York, NY – March 3rd
2023 – “Paroxysm” - Westbeth Gallery, New York, NY – February 9th
2023 – “From Haiti, With Love” - African Peach Arts Coalition, Brooklyn, NY – January 13th
2022 – “Lets Grow” - Grow In Haiti & Alpha Arts Alliance, New York, NY – October 27th
2022 – “The Letter H” - The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, New York, NY – September 15th
2022 – “See Black Women” - Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY – July 31st
2022 – “Black Genius: We Rise…Still” - The Billie Holiday Theatre, Brooklyn, NY – May 19th
2022 – “TRUE STORIES” - The Untitled Space, New York, NY – April 7th
2022 – “Basquiat Lives” - Basquiat's Bottle, Brooklyn, NY – March 7th
2021 – “FriendsGiving 2021 - Visual Arts Showcase” - The Living Gallery, Brooklyn, NY – December 5th
2021 – “Amref Health Africa ArtBall: Benefit Auction 2021” - Calabar Gallery, New York, NY – September 28th
2021 – “The Innovate” - The Untitled Space, New York, NY – September 12th
2021 – “Inside/Out” – Black Gotham Experience – South Street Seaport Museum, New York, NY – August 6th
2021 – “Lo Stato Dell'Arte Ai Tempi Della Biennale Dell'Architettura” - Venice Art Gallery – Venice, Italy – July 11th
2021 – “The Other Art Fair Exhibition at The Hoxton” - The Hoxton, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY – June 29th
2021 – “The Other Art Fair Brooklyn by Saatchi Art” – Brooklyn Expo Center, Brooklyn, NY – June 22nd
2021 - “21 Piece Salute” - Black Wall Street Gallery, SoHo, New York, NY – May 27th
2021 – “Anywhere But Here” – The Canvas, New York, NY – March 22nd
2021 – “Black Gold” – Fable Jones Studios, Brooklyn, NY – February 6th
2020 – “Gallery Grand Opening” – Fable Jones Studios, Brooklyn, NY – December 1st
2020 – “Nature / Technology II: The Pandemic Archive” – The Canvas, New York, NY - November 20th
2020 – “Change” – Norman Rea Gallery, York, United Kingdom – July 13th
2019 – “SLAP Collective Friendsgiving Art Exhibit” Remy Rouge Culture Center, Brooklyn, NY - November 30th
2019 – “5th Annual Black Tie Fundraiser” - Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, NC - September 26th
2019 – “Speak Your Vision” - SK. ArtSpace, New York, NY - June 29th
2019 – “In Our Own Word” - Weeksville Heritage Center, New York, NY - June 25th
2019 – “Caribbean Creatives Exhibit” - Urban Art Gallery, Philadelphia, PA - June 1st
2018 – “I Was Created to Create” - SK. ArtSpace, New York, NY - September 29th
2018 – “Mixed Media” - Red Rocks, Washington DC - July 7th
2018 – “Art Is The Culture” - Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, PA - May 31st
2018 - “Mixed Media” - Red Rocks, Washington DC - April 6th.
2018- “Art Is The Culture” - B.You Society Loft, Philadelphia, PA - March 30th
2017 - “Mixed Media” - Smith Public Trust, Washington, DC - December 13th
2017 – “DRKMTRS: Art & Interviews” - The Rotunda Theater - Philadelphia, PA - December 11th
Bibliography:
2023 – Stephi Wild, “EYO Opens at Culture Lab LIC in October” Broadway World, September 14, 2023.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/EYO-Opens-at-Culture-Lab-LIC-in-October-20230914
2023 – BRENIKA BANKS, “You Are the Myth' explores African Diasporic spirituality and symbolism” New York Amsterdam News, July 27, 2023.
https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2023/07/27/you-are-the-myth-african-diasporic-symbolism/
2023 – Orlande Fleury, “You Are The Myth – Watson Mere solo exhibition!” Caribbean Life News, July 12, 2023.
https://www.caribbeanlife.com/you-are-the-myth-watson-mere-solo-exhibition/
2023 – “Unveiling the Mythic Tapestry: Journey through Time and Culture with Watson Mere's Mind-Blowing Art Exhibition” NewsBreak Original, June 29, 2023.
2023 – Cecilia Vanderberg, “Watson Mere Exhibit: Bridging Time Through Myths and Art” Art Currents, June 20, 2023.
https://artcurrents.org/watson-mere-chashama-exhibit-myths-and-art/
2023 – “Chashama presents "You Are The Myth" a Solo Exhibition by Watson Mere” Benzinga, June 20, 2023.
2023 – “Chashama presents "You Are The Myth" a Solo Exhibition by Watson Mere” MarketWatch, June 20, 2023.
2023 – Valerie Russ, “Urban Art Gallery’s Caribbean Creatives Art Show celebrates a community within a community” The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 10, 2023.
2023 – Aaron Miller, “Meet Watson Mere” Canvas Rebel, May 18, 2023.
https://canvasrebel.com/meet-watson-mere/
2023 – Shakti Denis, “Brooklyn restaurant honors Haitian heritage with unique art exhibit” News 12 New York, New York, NY, May 7, 2023
https://brooklyn.news12.com/brooklyn-restaurant-honors-haitian-heritage-with-unique-art-exhibit
2023 – Michael Cox, “Introducing Watson Mere, the Haitian artist infusing spirituality, culture and symbolism into his work!” The Official Black Magazine, February 21, 2023.
2022 – “RealRadio Podcast feat. Watson Mere,” RealRadio Podcast. December 15, 2022.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igCOhmvVonM
2022 – “New York Liberty To Host Sixth Annual Unity Game on July 31” WNBA.com, July 28, 2022.
https://liberty.wnba.com/news/new-york-liberty-to-host-sixth-annual-unity-game-on-july-31/
2022 – “Watson Mere,” Studio Visit Magazine: Volume 49. page 115.
2022 – Chloe Rabinowitz, “THE FOURTH ALAAFIN OF OYO to be Presented At The New York Theater Festival” Broadway World, May 13, 2022.
2022 – Malik Cocherel, “Sur les traces de Basquiat à New York” Le Devoir, April 30, 2022.
https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/arts-visuels/704262/sur-les-traces-de-basquiat-a-new-york
2022 – Will Nunziata, “FENIX Interview: Meet Haitian Artist WATSON MERE!,” Fenix 360. February 22, 2022.
2021 – Nick Sullivan, “How We Dress Now: 12 Regular Men With Great Style” Esquire Magazine, January 10, 2022.
https://www.esquire.com/style/mens-fashion/a38241134/real-men-style-how-we-dress-now/
2021 – “Watson Mere,” Untitled Magazine, The Innovate Issue. 57 - 58.
2021 – Will Gleason, “An immersive art walk is now open in the South Street Seaport” Time Out New York, August 17, 2021.
https://downtownny.com/news/magic-hour-seaport-kamau-ware/
2021 – “See What 30 Artists Were Up To During Quarantine At The Seaport’s New Art Walk,” Downtown Alliance, August 9, 2021.
https://downtownny.com/news/magic-hour-seaport-kamau-ware/
2021 – Mia Mendez, “The Other Art Fair Announces Return to Brooklyn This July with its First In-Person Brooklyn Fair since 2019,” GlobeNewsire, July 6, 2021.
2021 – Matt Stevens, “Gallery Commemorating Tulsa Massacre Seeks Police Inquiry of Vandalism,” The New York Times, June 3, 2021.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/03/arts/design/black-wall-street-gallery-racism-vandalism.html
2021 – “The Other Art Fair Turns 10 and Asks 400 Artists to Answer ‘Why Am I An Artist,” Colossal, June 1, 2021.
https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2021/06/the-other-art-fair/
2021 – Lauren Harano, “Black Joy From the Eyes of Artist: What Inspires True Happiness Each Day,” PopSugar, February 12, 2021.
https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/black-artists-on-what-inspires-joy-48156238
2020 – Nelson Alexander, “Watson Mere Interview,” Multimedia Mixtape. January 2, 2021.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VbqxOREItI&list=PLdYUTU-F34Vwm5uqeEWDCL8AJtz2yjV7H
2020 – Rhina Valentin, “Open BxRx: Visual Artist Watson Mere,” Bronxnet TV, Bronx, NY, June 27, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLdSFW0jD2g&t=5s
2020 – “ArtHub NYC-Virtual Art Exhibit,” News12 Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY, April 28, 2020
2020 – Adrian Barrin, “Watson Mere Interview” Artlet. April 16, 2020.
2019 – “12 DOPE BLACK PAINTERS YOU SHOULD KNOW,” Melanin Is Life.
https://melaninislife.com/blogs/lifestyle/black-painters
2019 – Charlie Antonio-Lopez. “Artist – Watson Mere,” Calvation Podcast. December 1, 2019.
2018 – Daren Jaime, “Perspectives featuring Watson Mere,” Bronxnet TV, Bronx, NY, November 21, 2018
2018 – “NYC NextGen 10, Art & Culture,” C-Suite Quarterly Magazine, October 2018
2018 – Michael Cavna, “His image of Trump went viral — and now he has words for the president about his native Haiti,” The Washington Post, January 22, 2018.
2018 – Fabiola Cineas, “Meet Watson Mere, ” Philly Magazine, March 1, 2018.
https://www.phillymag.com/business/2018/03/01/watson-mere-philadelphia-artist/
2018 – Ethan Ayala, “Haitian artist Watson Mere: Deep diving into the mind of an Expressive Genius,” AlloAyiti.com, November 13, 2018.
https://alloayiti.com/haitian-artist-watson-mere-deep-diving-into-the-mind-of-an-expressive-genius/
2018 – Carol Hills, “This Haitian American artist’s image of MLK hushing Trump goes viral again,” Public Radio International, January 15, 2018.
2018 – Robin Young, “Haitian-American Artist Explains His Image Of MLK And President Trump,” NPR – Here & Now, January 18, 2018.
https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/01/18/watson-mere-artist-mlk-trump
2018 – Pablo de Llano, “El año que Donald tuiteó peligrosamente,” El Pais. January 21, 2018.
https://elpais.com/internacional/2018/01/20/estados_unidos/1516406097_741558.html
2017 – Tod Perry, “The Story Behind One Of The Most Powerful Images On the Resistance,” Good Magazine. August 24, 2017.
https://www.good.is/slideshows/good-interview-artist-watson-mere
2016 – “Watson Mere,” The Grey District. June 14, 2016 .
https://www.thegreydistrict.com/art//watson-mere
2015 – Eye Candy, “The Magnetic Illustrations of Haitian-American Artist Watson Mere,” AfroPunk. December 18, 2015
Professional Experience:
2022 – 2023 Grant Board Member - Brooklyn Arts Council
2021 – 2022 Grant Board Member - Brooklyn Arts Council
Curatorial Experience:
2022 – “See Black Women” - Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY – July 31st
Theater Experience:
2023 – Supporting Role: Orisa Oniko - “EYO Masquerade” – CultureLab LIC at The Plaxall Gallery, Long Island City, NY – Emergence Artist Residency Program - October 1st - November 26th
2022 – Starring Role: SANGO - “The Fourth Alaafin of Oyo” – Teatro LATEA, New York City, NY – New York Theatre Festival - May 31st - June 3rd