Afi Ese
(pronounced ah-fee eh-say)
Afi Ese is an African American contemporary realism and figurative narrative artist living in Houston, Texas. She holds a master of science in forensic psychology with a concentration in art therapy. Ese’s work focuses on Black portraiture while representing and venerating West African diasporic history with an emphasis on generational trauma and triumph in rural Black America. Her paintings are conceptualized narratives of the African plight through the eyes of a self-aware Black American.
Afi identifies as a disabled artist who is wheel-chair dependent and views artistic ability as a mental skill just as much as a physical skill and aims to show others with disabilities that they can find catharsis and relief through art. Most recently, Ese’s works have been on display at The Museum of Fine Arts-Houston and The Houston Museum of African American Culture in Houston, TX, If We Had Wings solo exhibit at Gallery Guichard in Chicago, IL, and The Brazosport Center for the Arts, TX, where her piece was the first sale of the night.
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GROUP EXHIBITIONS.
2024 Women Who Dare. The Houston Public Library - Central Library, Houston, TX
2023 Texas Heat. Woman’s Caucus for Art/Brazoport Center for the Arts & Sciences, Clute, TX
2023 Citywide African American Art Exhibition. The Houston Public Library - Central Library + The African American Library at the Gregory School, Houston, TX Press Release
2023 A Woman’s Worth. Aquae Nguvu Gallery and Studio, Milwaukee, WI
2022-23 ArtAbility Exhibition and Sale. Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Malvern, PA
2022-23 Citywide African American Art Exhibition. Glassell School of Art at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Houston, TX
2022 Texas Now Online Showcase 2022. Artspace111, Fort Worth, TX. Virtual
2022 What's Next? Cat Eye Creative, Atlanta, GA
2022 This Is America 2022. 5 Points Art Gallery + Studio, Milwaukee, WI
2022 The Work of Women. Woman’s Caucus for Art Texas/Frost Brown Todd Law Firm, Houston, TX
2022 Citywide African American Art Exhibition. Texas Southern University, Houston, TX
2022 Culture: Our New Norm. Prairie View A&M University-NW, Houston, TX
2022 Black Creativity Juried Exhibition. Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago, IL
2021-22 ArtAbility Exhibition and Sale. Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Malvern, PA
2021 EXPO 2021. 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2021 Nativo. Hardy and Nance Studios, Houston, TX
2021 When Words Fall. Visionary Art Collective. Virtual. 2021 100th Day Show. Cat Eye Creative, Atlanta, GA
2021 How We See. Pencil on Paper Gallery, Farmers Branch, TX
2021 Black History Month Exhibition & Sale. Irving Black Arts Council, Irving, TX
2020-21 26th Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition & Exhibition. African American Museum of Dallas, Dallas, TX
2020 Art Beat Miami. 7TH Annual Virtual Art Fair Art Basel/Miami Art Week, Miami, FL
2020 See My Color: A Social Justice Call for Art. The Women’s Caucus for Art of Greater Washington, DC. Virtual
2020-21 ArtAbility Exhibition and Sale. Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Malvern, PA
2020 African American Artists Exhibition. University of Houston-Clear Lake Art Gallery, Clear Lake, TX
2019 ArtLit, Humphreys Gallery, Kimberly, South Africa
SOLO EXHIBITIONS.
2024 August 16 - September 30. Interconnected: The African Influence of Urban Adornment, Side Gallery, The Jung Center, Houston, TX
2023 August 18 - September 16. If We Had Wings, Gallery Guichard, Bronzeville, Chicago, IL. 12/21 pieces sold opening night.
2023 February 4 - April 1. Flights from Antiquity, Bert long Gallery, Museum of African American Culture, Houston, TX
2017 Revolution or Exodus, Yoga House Houston, Houston, TX
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
2023 October. Suboart Magazine. Featured Artist Spread. More info
2023 January. RAW: Race & Disability Anthology. Artwork. More info
2022 September. Finding Paradise: A Black Mental Health Anthology. Artwork and poetry.
2022 April. CanvasRebel Magazine. Interview. More info
2022 February. Black Minds Magazine. Artwork.
2021 September. Black Minds Magazine. Artwork.
2021 September. Blk Voices Magazine, Cover.
2021 August. Root Work Journal. Artwork. Press release
2021 March. Art and Seek. Artwork. Press release
2021 February. Sanctuary Magazine. Interview. Press release
2020 September. Critical Bounds Podcast. Interview.
2020 September. ShoutOut HTX Magazine. Interview. Press release
2020 August. Caribbean Radio Show. Interview.
2020 March. Brown Girls and Mental Health Magazine. Artwork and poetry.
2020 January. Black Art in America. Press release
2019. February. NWI Times. Press release
2019. January. NWI Times. Press release
2018 October. NWI Times. Press release
2018 February. Voyage Houston Magazine. Press release
COLLECTIONS.
NAACP
The Ironman Sports Medicine Institute, Houston, TX
MEMBERSHIPS. ASSIGNMENTS. APPOINTMENTS.
2023-2025 NAACP Artist Residency – Ohio
2021-current Women's Caucus for Art – Texas Chapter, Membership & Publicity Chair
2021- Texas Female Artists
2021 Distance Learning: D.C. Teacher Art Show. Curatorial Assistant, website designer, graphic artist. Curated by Zsudayka Nzinga Terrell. Washington, D.C.
2020 Women's Caucus for Art, 06723
AWARDS. GRANTS. HONORS. PRIZES.
2022 1st Prize Drawing and Fine Printmaking, The Stephen Panacsi Memorial Award, ArtAbility Exhibition and Sale.
2022 Honorable Mention, Citywide African American Art Exhibition.
2021 Rauschenberg Grant, Cycle 9, New York Foundation for the Arts.
2021 Juror’s Choice Award, EXPO 2021.