WAVY WEDNESDAY

KAMARA TOWNES

ARTIST

 

EDUCATION

2021 – 2024 

• M.F.A. Painting, West Virginia University 

2020 Fall Semester 

• M.F.A. Painting, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (canceled grad program)

2019 – 2020 

• Distillery Program/ Brew House Residency 

2013 – 2018 

• B.F.A. Painting, California University of Pennsylvania

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2023 – 2024 

• Instructor of Record, ART 111: Drawing 1, School of Art and Design, College of Creative Arts, West Virginia University, 2 sections taught.

2022 – 2023 

• Docent, Educator, Art Museum of West Virginia University

2018 – 2023 

• Volunteer Workshop Leader for Girls Rock! Pittsburgh

 

AWARDS AND HONORS

2023 – 2024 

• Graduate Teaching Assistantship, School of Art and Design, College of Creative Arts, West Virginia University

2023

• Dean of Libraries Award, 2023 WVU School of Art and Design Juried Student Exhibition, Laura Mesaros Gallery, West Virginia University

• Jurors Choice, 2023 WVU School of Art and Design Juried Student Exhibition, Laura Mesaros Gallery, West Virginia University

2022 – 2023 

• Graduate Assistantship, Art Museum of West Virginia University

 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024

• Extra, ShowUp Boston, Beacon Gallery

2023

• Barbie, Girls Who Paint Gallery

• Art On The Walls: Fall Edition, The Borough of Dormont, Dormant Arts

2020

• Seeking Truth, Brew House Association

2019

• Advancing Black Arts Symposium, Heinz Endowments 

• Artistic Integrity, True T Studios 

2018

• A Woman's Voice in Art, Erie Art Gallery

2017

• Writings on the Wall, Flow Lounge

• Black Arts Festival, California University of Pennsylvania

2016

• Pancakes & Booze Art Festival, Spirit Lodge

• Canvas of Words, Kelly Strayhorn Theatre

2015

• Psychedelia, California University of Pennsylvania

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2024

• “WHERE DID YOUR CHRIST COME FROM?” M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition, Gallery 937, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

2019

• Protect Black Women, Brooklyn NY 

2018

• Protect Black Women, Late Space

2017

• Art By Wednesday, Social Status

 

MURALS / PUBLIC ART PROJECTS

2024

• 458 Mural Project, Morgantown, WV 

• BARBIE BLOOM VIRGIN WAY, NORTHSIDE, PITTSBURGH, PA

2023

• Hill District Air BNB, Pittsburgh, PA 

• Clairton Education Center Asphalt Mural, Clairton, PA

• Ms. Carol’s Daycare, Duquesne, PA 

2022

• Black Barbies in the Hair Store, Pittsburgh International Airport 

• Love Never Fails, Brentwood, PA 

• Hibiscus Café, McKeesport, PA 

2021

• Baked, Hippie & French, Pittsburgh, PA 

• The Nail Space, New Kensington, PA 

• Ardmore Goddess, Wilkinsburg, PA 

• A New Constellation / Cultural District, Pittsburgh, PA 

• Condado’s Tacos / South Hills Village Mall, Pittsburgh, PA 

2020

• The Speckled Egg, Pittsburgh, PA 

• Seven Senses Catering, Pittsburgh, PA 

• Unity / Office of Student Conduct, Indiana, PA 

• Spirit Wall BLACK AF Edition, Pittsburgh, PA 

2019

• Lily’s Mural, River Forest Country Club Freeport, PA 

• Spirit Wall Mural project, Pittsburgh, PA 

2018

• City Of Prayer, Clairton, PA 

2017

• Bloom Mural Project, Clairton, PA 

 

PUBLIC LECTURES / GALLERY TALKS 

2024

• “WHERE DID YOUR CHRIST COME FROM?” Artist Talk, Pittsburgh, PA

2019

• Artist Lecture, Carlow University 

• Girls Rock Pittsburgh Workshop, Winchester Thurston 

• Protect Black Women Artist Talk, Brooklyn, New York 

2018

• Black History Month Artist Talk, California University of Pennsylvania 

• Protect Black Women Artist Talk, Pittsburgh, PA 

 

SPECIAL PROJECTS

2024

• WV & Regional History Center, Regina Charon Portrait Commission, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

2019

• (Performance) Shade Compositions with Rashaad Newsome, Carnegie Music Hall, Pittsburgh, PA

• Pop Up Shop/Show, Hippie & French, Pittsburgh, PA

• Fresh Fest Collaboration Project, Pittsburgh, PA

• Jurying, Public Art Project Smallman St. Plaza, Pittsburgh, PA

 

PUBLICATIONS

​

AFROPUNK - https://afropunk.com/2018/04/pop-artist-kamara-townes-uses-satire-to-denounce-racism/

WESA.FM - https://www.wesa.fm/post/artist-kamara-townes-takes-page-warhol-using-colorful-pop-art-challenge-biases#stream/0

Pittsburgh City Paper - https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/sponsored-content-kamara-townes-tackles-cultural-appropriation-fetishization-casual-and-systematic-racism-in-her-art/Content?oid=10949376

https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/black-history-month-pittsburgh-artist-wavy-wednesday-seeks-help-taking-protect-black-women-on-the-road/Content?oid=13699312

Late Space Gallery - https://latespace.info/Protect-Black-Women

CARLOW UNIVERSITY - https://www.carlow.edu/eventDetails.aspx?ID=23769

THE 14-40 - https://www.the14-40.com/post/the-future-of-pittsburgh-is-color

INDI MEDIA - https://indi-perspective.tumblr.com/post/168079749052/our-millennial-of-the-month-for-december-is

Supermarket Magazine - https://supermarketmagazine.com/2020/10/03/can-i-touch-your-hair-hell-no-wavy-wednesdays-black-barbie-series/ 

WESA.FM - https://www.wesa.fm/arts-sports-culture/2024-05-23/glitter-rage-pittsburgh-wavy-wednesday 

Mutual Art - https://www.mutualart.com/Exhibition/Wavy-Wednesday--Where-Did-Your-Christ-Co/F7CA7A43FE25F96C 

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust - https://trustarts.org/exhibit/26815-2024/wavy-wednesday-where-did-your-christ-come-from 

Pittsburgh Events - http://pghevents.net/events/where-did-your-christ-come-from/ 

Pittsburgh Arts Council - https://www.pittsburghartscouncil.org/artists/wavy-wednesday 

West Virginia Library - https://exlibris.lib.wvu.edu/news/2024/01/23/two-students-receive-dean-of-libraries-student-arts-award 

West Virginia Library - https://exhibits.lib.wvu.edu/special-projects/inclusive-portrait-project 

Downtown Pittsburgh - https://downtownpittsburgh.com/publicart/newspacespheres/