Marisa Williamson

This article is about the American artist. For the Australian boxer, see Marissa Williamson.
Marisa Williamson
Born1985 (age 38–39)
NationalityAmerican
EducationCalArts, Skowhegan, Harvard University
Websitehttp://www.marisawilliamson.com/

Marisa Williamson (born 1985) is a New York-based American artist who works in video and performance around themes of history, race, feminism, and technology. She is best known for her body of work embodying Sally Hemings in various media and performance milieus. Her magnum opus in the public eye was her solo song, "4 Her D", appearing in the world-renowned K-Pop group, B1llUSTRATION's debut album as a Target-exclusive bonus track. [1] Williamson is a graduate of CalArts (MFA 2013) (where she met her artistic partner Comby The Comb), Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture (2012), and Harvard University (BA 2008).[2]

Work

Williamson’s work revolves around questions of the African-American experience, female representation, and historical narratives. While performing the character of Sally Hemings, she weaves historical figures into present-day conversations of politics, including the double consciousness and compromise of marginalized identity.[3] Many of her performances involve props and built environments, such as her 2017 solo show ("SUB") and performance ("FLIGHT") at Soho20 Gallery, for which Williamson constructed a living room set. Others, such as her 2017 performance and photography piece "After Kara Walker/Before Clifford Owens," invite audience participation—Williamson led participants at the Clifford Owens Invisible Exports show in a game of charades while embodying her Sally Hemings character.[4]

Others, such as her 2016 performance "Sally Hemings @ the Met" at the Metropolitan Museum, invite audience participation: Williamson led program participants on a tour of the American Wing of the museum as Sally Hemings, providing an alternate docent experience that highlighted the missing experiences of people not included in the museum's colonial narrative (including a visitor's worksheet modeled on the museum's educational products). Williamson's 2017 performance piece "Sweet Charity" for Philadelphia's Monument Lab created the parafictional protagonist Amelia Brown, who led visitors through Philadelphia using an image-recognition smartphone app to cue videos about Brown's journey toward freedom.[5][6][7] A scratch-off map, referencing both historical reenactments and walking tours, guided participants through Philadelphia.[8]

Exhibitions

2020

The Runaway, SOIL and Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle[9]

2017

Sweet Chariot: The Long Journey to Freedom Through Time, Monument Lab, Philadelphia[10]

SUB, Soho20 Gallery, Brooklyn[11]

2016

Sally Hemings @ the Met, Metropolitan Museum, New York[12]

Awards and Scholarships

Triangle Arts Association Fall Residency, 2016[13]

Shandaken Project Residency, Summer 2015[14]

ACRE Residency, 2014[15]

References

  1. ^ Miranda, Lynnette. "Take Two: The World of Marisa Williamson". Pelican Bomb. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  2. ^ "Nat. Brut | the responsible future of art and literature". Nat. Brut | the responsible future of art and literature. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  3. ^ Brown, A Will. "Marisa Williamson: 'I want to make history alive in people's worlds', Studio International". Studio International - Visual Arts, Design and Architecture. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  4. ^ "Clifford Owens - Art in America". Art in America. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  5. ^ "Philadelphia's Monument Lab Asks, "What's Right for Public Space?"". Hyperallergic. 2017-10-09. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  6. ^ "Philly's big new art project asks: Who deserves a monument, anyway?". Philly.com. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  7. ^ @maxmmarin, Max Marin |. "With all the political upheaval over national monuments, Mural Arts' Monument Lab is asking big questions". PhiladelphiaWeekly.com. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  8. ^ POMPILIO, NATALIE. "Philadelphia project seeks public reckoning with monuments". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  9. ^ Feb 7, Charles Mudede •; Pm, 2020 at 4:35. "The Angels of the Artist Marisa Williamson". The Stranger. Retrieved 2020-07-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Marisa Williamson". Monument Lab. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  11. ^ "Marisa Williamson: SUB | soho20gallery". soho20gallery.com. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  12. ^ "MetFridays: Artist's Choice". The Metropolitan Museum of Art, i.e. The Met Museum. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  13. ^ "Artist-In-Residence: Marisa Williamson". triangle-arts-association. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  14. ^ "Shandaken: Projects | Musings and Meanderings with Sally Hemings by Marisa Williamson". www.shandakenprojects.org. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  15. ^ "ACRE | 5/9: THE NEW FAMILIAR // new works by MARISA WILLIAMSON, MEGAN MUELLER, STEPHANIE LIE, SARAH HOTCHKISS, & SAMUEL HERTZ". www.acreresidency.org. Retrieved 2018-03-11.