Studio Practice
“Creativity is the bridge between vision and reality.”
As an interdisciplinary fine artist, my studio is a dynamic space where creativity flows across multiple disciplines. I am constantly immersed in the process of developing and creating new work, whether it’s conceptualizing and building a new series of paintings, working on a commissioned piece, or experimenting with poetry and music. Each element of my practice informs the others, creating a deeply interconnected body of work that is both expressive and innovative.
In the studio, I prioritize staying creative and pushing boundaries. When painting, I focus on layering colors, textures, and my signature drips, which symbolize time, renewal, and connection. These elements often carry cultural, historical, or environmental narratives, reflecting my commitment to storytelling through visual art.
When working on poetry or music, I explore themes that resonate with my visual work, such as identity, heritage, and the rhythms of life. These creative outlets serve as a means of deepening the emotional and conceptual layers of my visual art, adding a multidimensional quality to my practice.
My studio is also a space of exploration, where experimentation with new techniques and mediums is central to my process. Whether blending mixed media into paintings, experimenting with soundscapes, or merging written word with visual forms, I strive to challenge myself and evolve as an artist.
Artist statement
I am an interdisciplinary artist dedicated to exploring the intersections of history, culture, perception, and time through dynamic and thought-provoking works. Drawing inspiration from my personal narratives and lived experiences, I weave together traditional and contemporary elements to challenge boundaries and invite reflection. My creative practice spans painting, installation, video, and other mediums, allowing me to tell stories in ways that resonate deeply with diverse audiences. Above all, I aim to create art that is both accessible and engaging, sparking meaningful connections and conversations across all backgrounds.
My Creative Process
When I create new works, I often work in series, exploring themes and ideas through a cohesive body of work. When I’m working in the studio.each series allows me to dive deep into a concept and express it in multiple ways. I frequently revisit past series to build upon their narratives, adding new layers of meaning, or I embark on entirely new creative journeys to explore fresh perspectives and ideas. This process keeps my work evolving and continuously inspired by the world around me.
Feel free to contact me if you would like a studio visit!
Return to nature exhibition at the Coastal Discovery Museum, Hilton head Island
Return to nature painting 48 x 48 mixed media on canvas
sold in in private collection
Return to Nature: A Gullah Geechee Story
Return to Nature: Gullah Geechee Story is an exploration of the plight and resiliency of the descendants of West Africans and indigenous Americans who inhabit the Sea Islands of South Carolina. This exhibition features dynamic bodies of work that examine the evolution of Gullah Geechee art, while chronicling history in relation to nature.
Featured artists include Jonathan Green, Sam Doyle, Amiri Farris, Natalie Daise, Diane Britton Dunham, Arianne King Comer, James Denmark, and Hank D. Herring.
While the artists depict the lives of ordinary people, the layered textures and rich, vivid colors reflect a celebration of Creole culture, as well as the vitality and nobility of the subject. Both the art and objects featured in this exhibition introduce the viewer to a culture which is dominated by the honoring of ancestors, agriculture, Sea Island living, spirituality, and cultural memory.
Featured artists include Jonathan Green, Sam Doyle, Amiri Farris, Natalie Daise, Diane Britton Dunham, Arianne King Comer, James Denmark, and Hank D. Herring.
While the artists depict the lives of ordinary people, the layered textures and rich, vivid colors reflect a celebration of Creole culture, as well as the vitality and nobility of the subject. Both the art and objects featured in this exhibition introduce the viewer to a culture which is dominated by the honoring of ancestors, agriculture, Sea Island living, spirituality, and cultural memory.
recent exhibitions
The Lyndon House Arts Center hosted an exhibition featuring the paintings and collages of Amiri Farris through October 5, 2024. Farris is the 2023-24 artist in residence for Culture and Community at the Penn Center National Historic District, a partnership program of the Willson Center and St. Helena, SC's Penn Center, funded by a grant from the Mellon Foundation.
Farris’s work delves into themes of history, culture, perception, and time, resonating with audiences from all walks of life. Through his innovative style, with paint, collage and large scale, Farris blurs the lines between contemporary cultures and pop traditions. Each work of art bursts forth with vibrancy, utilizing bold colors, super black lines, and intricate details. While initially appearing to depict tangible objects, closer inspection reveals a fusion of familiar representational elements and non-objective abstraction, inviting viewers to explore the depths of the artist's interpretations.
Art installation R. Lukasiewicz Gallery
Mercedes-Benz Stadium permanent artwork installation
Kinetic player acrylic paint on reclaimed wood 2017
Part of the Mercedes-Benz stadium collection, Atlanta, Georgia
This piece is all about capturing the energy and motion of the game. I wanted to show the power and grace of a soccer player in mid-action, caught in that intense moment of a strike. The angular shapes and bold red tones are intentional—they emphasize the dynamism and excitement that soccer Ender also sheep’s found in the logo and original design of the stadium. The geometric forms, like the triangles and zigzags, are my way of visually echoing the rhythm and movement on the field. I kept the palette simple with reds, whites, and earthy tones to create contrast and focus your attention on the player and the ball. celebrating the sport, the passion behind it, and the energy that fills a place like the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
At the time I was creating this piece, I was using a lot of reclaimed wood in my work. I loved the texture and history that the wood brought to each piece, and I thought it would be a perfect material for a public area like this. It’s durable, sustainable, and has a warmth that balances the boldness of the design. The natural tones and texture of the reclaimed wood contrast nicely with the concrete walls of the stadium.
Here I am working in thestudio, surrounded by some of my work and creative elements. In the foreground, you can see the original mock-up design for the artwork I created for the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. I worked through quite a few designs before finalizing the piece, refining the composition and energy until it felt right for such a dynamic public space. Worked on. Moving feel irritated or sometimes I use these creative initial stages into a large-scale finished piece that connects with such a broad audience.
Gullah
Geechee stories collection
Montage Palmetto Bluff
The Collection at Montage Palmetto Bluff showcases a distinct selection of Amiri’s Gullah-inspired artwork. This captivating collection explores themes of land, culture, and heritage, incorporating indigo tones and natural elements that celebrate the rich history of the Gullah Geechee people.
Now on view at:
Montage Palmetto Bluff
477 Mount Pelia Road
Bluffton, SC 29910
Experience this unique collection in person and connect with the vibrant stories and traditions that inspire Amiri’s work. Some of the works are available to purchase to add to your collection inquiries are accepted through the contact page.
Gullah, Geechee, Land, Rice, Okra, Greens
70 x 120 in. Acrylic and Indigo on Canvas, Amiri Farris, 2022
This painting celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Gullah Geechee people, intertwining elements of land, rice, okra, and greens to honor their deep-rooted connection to the Sea Islands. The sweeping brushstrokes and indigo hues embody a narrative of resilience, tradition, and unity, evoking a sense of history and identity. Bold drips and layered textures breathe life into the canvas, making it a powerful tribute to community and culture.
Available for purchase: $12,500
This work is currently tapestry style on canvas stretching is available
48x60. Acrylic and indigo on canvas,
Amiri Farris, 2020
Sold in private collection
Gullah, Geechee, Fields
70 x 120 in. Acrylic and Indigo on Canvas, Amiri Farris, 2022
This evocative artwork pays homage to the deep connection between the Gullah Geechee people and the fertile fields that shaped their history and culture. Rich indigo hues and textured brushstrokes flow across the canvas, capturing the rhythm of the land and the resilience of its people. Amiri Farris masterfully bridges tradition and contemporary art, creating a profound narrative of legacy and identity.
Available for purchase: $10,000
Now on view at the
Amiri Farris Collection, Montage Palmetto Bluff, located at:
477 Mount Pelia Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910
For inquiries, contact directly to secure this painting.
Gullah Geechee Island Bounty
70 x 120 in. Acrylic and Indigo on Canvas, Amiri Farris, 2022
This striking piece celebrates the abundant beauty and rich heritage of the Gullah Geechee culture, capturing the essence of the Sea Islands’ connection to the land, sea, and riverways. Central to the composition is a handmade batteau boat, a symbol of the Gullah Geechee people’s deep ties to the Lowcountry’s rivers. The work features dynamic indigo tones and layered textures that evoke the ebb and flow of the river, reflecting the resilience, community, and traditions that define island life. Through this vibrant portrayal of nature and culture, Amiri Farris tells a story of heritage, survival, and the enduring spirit of the Lowcountry.
This piece is sold and now resides in a private collection
Gullah Geeche island series
48 x 48. Acrylic and indigo on canvas, Amiri Farris, 2022
This piece is sold and now reside in a private collection
Return to nature
48 x 48. Acrylic and indigo on canvas, Amiri Farris, 2022
This piece is sold, and now resides in a private collection
In this next series of works, I call my re-up series I used up, cycled material such as cardboard, paper and discarded art, supplies and elements I had around in my studio. This work was displayed at the Jepsen Center, breakout series.
Breakout! is a site-specific installation
by local artist Amiri Geuka Farris (American, B. 1974) for the 2020 iteration of Telfair Museums’ annual Boxed In/Break Out project,
which involves activating windows at the Jepson Center that face Barnard Street. Farris has created five large-scale assemblages that layer and juxtapose images of present-day Savannah inhabitants with references to Gullah traditions and African American history and narrative. The works are made from various recycled and found materials including boxes and paper bags. Combining these reworked objects with his unique printmaking process, Farris blurs the boundaries between abstraction and representation, sculpture and printmaking, and contemporary and traditional. Farris writes of his own artistic practice, “I like to see artwork that will take one medium and use it to do something else. Artwork that is bold, expressive, and completely different.” In addition to being inspired by the materials around him to create dynamic and colorful pieces, Farris also looks to his own life as he creates works that are full of intimate personal experiences and examinations of subjects that are compelling to him, including issues surrounding diaspora, culture, memory, and perception.
Dr. Jonathan Walz, Director of Curatorial Affairs and Curator of American Art at The Columbus Museum, Georgia and guest judge for Boxed In/Break Out, selected Farris’ proposal because it “best met or exceeded expectations for the project’s criteria of creativity and originality, feasibility, resourcefulness, visual appeal, and suitability to the space. Two form/content issues, in particular, captured my attention. First, the artist’s reuse or repurposing of discarded materials seems timely, given the urgent state of global environmental concerns. Second, as a curator, I often muse upon the power concentrated in museums and who is represented within those institutions. Seeing oneself reflected in a collection object, staff member, or museum trustee can be a powerful experience. Farris’ proposal to picture members from a range of Savannah communities—past and present—sounds compelling, and, based on the artist’s previous work, I am eager to see the final results.”
The results are indeed compelling to visitors who walk by the windows at the Jepson Center. Although captured behind glass, the works break out of the constricting form to boldly announce their presence and invite visitors to stop, look, and discover.
Hey y’all
63x92
Hey y’all; mixed media including cardboard box, brown bags, printmaking, vintage comics, acrylic paint, ink, glitter;
This piece is sold and in private collection
Here is some of the material I used cardboard behind a big box store. I hope to continue this series and display it on a bigger scale or create an installation in an another museum.
Here I am working in the studio, preparing for my exhibit at the Jepson Center, Telfair Museum in Savannah, Georgia. For the background, I flattened and combined cardboard boxes, collaging different sections together to create figurative faces. My goal was to make them appear abstract yet familiar, using exaggerated features to capture the attention of passersby through the Jepson Center’s windows. As I continued developing the pieces, I incorporated more cultural elements—layering paper, cardboard, paint, comics, and glitter—utilizing a variety of materials I had available in my studio to bring the series to life.
The next series of works, I created as a visiting artist at the Gibbes, Museum of Art in Charleston. I enjoyed my residency and also creating these new works and exhibiting them at the museum.
The Natural Duality in the Meta Season showcases a collection of paintings and assemblages that delves into the intricate duality of humanity’s connection with the world. With the rapid advancements in technology, language and virtual reality, our collective consciousness has been undergoing profound changes. The exhibition illustrates how the legacy of the African diaspora culture intersects with nature, land and new technologies. Through symbolic imagery and iconography, this collection explores cultural intersections while emphasizing the importance of climate awareness and new ways of contemplating the past and present in the American South and sea islands.
During my time as a visiting artist at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, I had the opportunity to develop and exhibit a new body of work that reflected my evolving artistic exploration. My residency at the museum was both an inspiring and enriching experience, allowing me to engage deeply with my creative process while drawing inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of the region.
The resulting series, The Natural Duality in the Meta Season, presents a compelling collection of paintings and assemblages that investigate the complex duality of humanity’s connection to the world. As technology, language, and virtual reality continue to advance at an unprecedented pace, our collective consciousness is undergoing profound transformations. This exhibition highlights the intersections between the enduring legacy of African diaspora culture and contemporary themes of nature, land, and emerging technologies.
Through the use of symbolic imagery and iconography, The Natural Duality in the Meta Season examines cultural intersections while addressing critical themes such as climate awareness and the evolving dialogue between past and present. The works in this collection offer new perspectives on history, identity, and environmental stewardship, particularly within the context of the American South and the Sea Islands. By blending traditional and modern materials, the series encourages viewers to contemplate the dynamic relationship between heritage and innovation, fostering a deeper understanding of our place within an ever-changing world.
If you would like to see more work and available, works check on the available artwork link and news section to see my current exhibitions
Best, Amiri