Ponti Art Gallery is interested in buying and selling works
of art by this artist.
Carrie-Mae Weems Biography
Carrie Mae Weems is a distinguished American artist whose work in photography, video, and installation art has profoundly impacted contemporary art and social activism. Born on April 20, 1953, in Portland, Oregon, Weems has developed a complex body of work that explores a wide range of themes, including cultural identity, sexism, class, political systems, and the consequences of power.
Weems' journey into the world of art began in her youth when she was involved in dance and street theater. Her life took a significant turn when she became a mother at the age of 16, giving birth to her daughter, Faith. This early experience of motherhood did not deter her from pursuing her artistic aspirations. In her early twenties, Weems received a camera as a birthday gift, which ignited her passion for photography. She was inspired by the works she saw in The Black Photography Annual, a book of images by African American photographers, which led her to take a photography class at the Studio Museum in Harlem in 1976.
Weems' formal education in the arts includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts, which she received in 1981, and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, San Diego, in 1984. She also participated in the folklore graduate program at the University of California, Berkeley. Her early work, such as Family Pictures and Stories (1983), began to address the representation of African American families, challenging stereotypes and societal assumptions.
Throughout her career, Weems has been recognized for her innovative approach to art and her commitment to social justice. Her work often incorporates fabric, text, audio, digital images, and installation video, but she is best known for her powerful photographic projects. One of her most celebrated works, The Kitchen Table Series (1990), is a narrative sequence of staged photographs and text panels that explore the life of a woman—played by Weems herself—at various moments around her kitchen table. This series, like much of her work, examines the roles and power dynamics of race, gender, and family relationships.
Weems' art is characterized by its engagement with history and its challenge to traditional narratives. In series such as From Here I Saw What Happened and I Cried (1995-96), she appropriates historical images of African Americans, overlaying them with text to comment on the history of racism and representation. Her work is meticulously composed, often seductive, and serves as a vehicle for bringing audiences closer to complex subjects.
Beyond her photographic and video work, Weems has also been involved in public health campaigns and community outreach. Her public art project, Resist Covid/Take 6!, aimed to raise awareness about the impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. She has also been an artist in residence and visiting professor at numerous institutions, sharing her knowledge and experience with emerging artists.
Weems' contributions to the art world have been widely recognized. She was the first African American woman to have a solo exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York in 2014. Her accolades include a MacArthur "Genius" grant in 2013, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award, and the prestigious Hasselblad Award in 2023.
Carrie Mae Weems continues to live and work in Syracuse, New York, with her husband, Jeffrey Hoone. She is represented by Jack Shainman Gallery in New York and Galerie Barbara Thumm in Berlin. Her work is held in public and private collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and Tate Modern, London. As an artist in residence at Syracuse University, Weems remains a vital force in the art community, using her creative voice to provoke thought, dialogue, and change.
Carrie-Mae Weems Quotes and
Sales of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
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