“I am an artist, not just by profession but by my very existence”
-Desanna Watson
Desanna Watson
Visual Artists and Art Educator
Artist CV
Qualifications /Education
Master of Arts in Leadership in Education - Liverpool John Moore University, UK - 2020 -present
NVQ Level IV Assessor Training - Vocational Training Development Institute- 2020
NVQ Level II-Fundamentals of Drawing - Studio Mortimer - 2019
NVQ Level I Photo Edition - Heart Trust/ NTA Garmex Academy -2019
Bachelors of Fine Arts in Painting- Edna Manley of the Visual And Performing Arts-2014- 2018
Exhibitions and Artist-in-Residence Programmes
International Women’s Day: Celebrating Black Women in Arts (Exhibition and Panel Discussion) -National Museums Liverpool, BLM Liverpool and Merseyside Alliance For Ethnic Equality- March 8,2022
Welcome Event and Exhibition- The Caribbean Center, Liverpool- February 18, 2022
Jamaica Making: The Theresa Roberts Arts Collection With Young Artists- The Victoria Gallery and Museum and Liverpool John Moore University- February 18,2022 -July 9, 2022
Artist in Residence -Liverpool John Moore University: School of Art and Design-February 6,2022- March 9, 2022
Fractures- (Independent Artists)-December 10,2021 - December 19, 2021
La Practica Group Exhibition - New Local Space Kingston - March 2021
La Practica Group Residency- New Local Space Kingston- November 2020- March 2021
MoDa Market 2018- The Collection MoDa -2018
School of Visual Arts Final Year Exhibition - Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts- June 6, 2018- July 4, 2018
Ongoing Projects
Creative Gist- An Instagram live, podcast-like programme which features creatives of all sorts to speak on issues concerning creatives. The programme is a resource for artists and acts as a space for networking and gaining exposure to fellow creators and patrons. (@desanna.w.art)
Re-Mapped Project- This project engages participants from ages 6 and older. Participants explore the art of cartography, and city development through a five to eight steps method which sees them transforming an existing map. At the end of the session, participants would have imprinted their thoughts, preferences and histories on to the map which is metaphoric for the relationship people have with spaces.
Awards
Prince Claus Seed Awards - Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development -2021
Chairman’s Award for Academic Excellence- Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts- 2017
C.B Facey Foundation Memorial Scholarship- C.B Facey Foundation -2017
Carreras Scholarship- Carreras Limited -2016
We Believe in You Fund- Jamaica National Commercial Bank -2016
Publications
Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development- “Desanna Watson Seed Award Recipient”
https://princeclausfund.org/awardees/desanna-watson
Shoutout Miami-“Meet Desanna Watson/Mixed Media Painter, Art Educator, Founder of Creative Gist
Liverpool John Moore University- “First of-its-kind Jamaican Art Exhibition Opening in Liverpool
Liverpool Echo- Exclusive Exhibition of Artworks Coming to Liverpool-
Liverpool Express- New exhibition of contemporary Jamaican art to open at the University of Liverpool’s Victoria Gallery & Museum
If you would like to invite me to do either of the following:
-create a commissioned artwork for your collection
-be an artist-in-residence at your institution
-be a guest speaker or guest lecturer
-host a creative workshop
-be an exhibitor/vendor at your exhibition or art fair
send an email to desannawatsonart@gmail.com. It is always a pleasure to do business with you.
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