Marisa Williamson (born 1985) is a New York-based

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

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. Williamson is a graduate of CalArts (MFA 2013) (where she met her artistic partner Comby The Comb),

Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture is an artists residency located in Madison, Maine, just outside of Skowhegan. Every year, the program accepts online applications from emerging artists from November through January, and selects 65 t ...

(2012), and

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

(BA 2008).

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. 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. Others, such as her 2016 performance "Sally Hemings @ the Met" at the

Metropolitan Museum The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City, colloquially "the Met", is the largest art museum in the Americas. Its permanent collection contains over two million works, divided among 17 curatorial departments. The main building at 1000 ...

, 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 Monument Lab is a public art project based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Created by curators Paul Farber and Ken Lum and Director of Research Laurie Allen, the project is notable for producing a number of works of public art around the city of Phil ...

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. A scratch-off map, referencing both historical reenactments and walking tours, guided participants through Philadelphia.

Exhibitions

2020 ''The Runaway'', SOIL and Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle 2017 ''Sweet Chariot: The Long Journey to Freedom Through Time'', Monument Lab, Philadelphia ''SUB'', Soho20 Gallery, Brooklyn 2016 ''Sally Hemings @ the Met'', Metropolitan Museum, New York

Awards and Scholarships

Triangle Arts Association Fall Residency, 2016 Shandaken Project Residency, Summer 2015 ACRE Residency, 2014

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williamson, Marisa Living people 21st-century African-American artists American women artists Harvard University alumni Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture alumni 1985 births 21st-century African-American people 21st-century African-American women 20th-century African-American artists 20th-century African-American women