States Of Being

Carrie Mae Weems

Biography Bibliography Press News

Works (Tap to zoom)

Biography

Carrie Mae Weems (b. 1953 Portland, OR; lives and works in Syracuse, NY) is widely renowned as one of the most influential contemporary American artists living today. Over the course of nearly four decades, Weems has developed a complex body of work employing text, fabric, audio, digital images, installation, and video, but she is most celebrated as a photographer. Activism is central to Weems’ practice, which investigates race, family relationships, cultural identity, sexism, class, political systems, and the consequences of power. Over the last 30 years of her prolific career, Weems has been consistently ahead of her time and an ongoing presence in contemporary culture.

 

Her work is organized into cohesive bodies that function like chapters in a perpetually unfolding narrative, demonstrating her gift as a storyteller. The Kitchen Table Series (1990), for instance, is one of Weems’ most seminal works, and widely considered one of the most important bodies of contemporary photography. The series, for which Weems herself posed as the main subject, is set at a woman’s kitchen table—a domestic stage—revealing intimate moments of her life as the story unfolds. The protagonist, though in many ways seemingly commonplace, is a multifaceted woman encompassing a variety of roles such as lover, parent, friend, and breadwinner. Through her work, Weems tackles a number of complex contemporary issues, demanding reconsideration of predominant narratives throughout our history.

Exhibitions

Stressed World
The School, Jun 05 – Dec 03, 2022
Carrie Mae Weems: Down Here Below
20th Street, Jan 13 – Feb 19, 2022
Parking On Pavement
The School, Nov 17, 2018 – Mar 02, 2019
Orientation
20th Street, Jun 28 – Aug 10, 2018
The Coffins of Paa Joe and the Pursuit of Happiness
The School, Jun 08, 2017 – Feb 24, 2018
The Coffins of Paa Joe and the Pursuit of Happiness
Jun 08 – Aug 25, 2017
All the Boys
Oct 29 – Dec 10, 2016
Carrie Mae Weems
20th Street, Oct 29 – Dec 10, 2016
Winter In America
The School, Oct 17, 2015 – Mar 19, 2016
Status Quo
The School, Jan 31 – Apr 12, 2015
Mise En Scène
The School, Aug 01 – Dec 01, 2014
The Shape Of Things
20th Street, Jun 05 – Jul 25, 2014
Slow Fade To Black
20th Street, Apr 22 – May 22, 2010
Signs Taken For Wonders
20th Street, May 28 – Jul 03, 2009
A Survey
20th Street, Feb 07 – Mar 08, 2008