Carrie Mae Weems

Carrie Mae Weems is an acclaimed artist who initially gained recognition through her early 1990s project, "The Kitchen Table Series." With a sharp focus on issues such as racism, sexism, politics, and personal identity, Weems' work has consistently reflected the realities faced by African Americans. She has been acknowledged with several awards, including the MacArthur Fellowship in 2013 and the Anonymous Was a Woman Award in 2007. Weems has also held esteemed positions as a visiting professor and artist-in-residence at institutions like Harvard University and Wellesley College.

In 2019/20, Weems was among the six artist-curators making selections for the "Artistic License: Six Takes on the Guggenheim Collection" at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Currently serving as an artist in residence at Syracuse University, her significant projects include "Family Pictures and Stories," "Ain't Jokin'," "American Icons," "The Kitchen Table series," and the multimedia performance "Grace Notes: Reflections for Now." Weems' work notably explores the experiences of black communities, particularly black women, with a powerful voice that resonates through her art.

Throughout her career, Weems has had her work exhibited at various prestigious locations, such as the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Park Avenue Armory, Württembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart, and the Barbican Centre. In 2023, she became the first Black woman to win the Hasselblad Award and also presented her career trajectory at the Scholl Lecture Series. Weems' contributions to the field of art have been widely recognized, and she continues to influence and inspire with her compelling visual narratives.