January 2025
Roots and Realities
New Exhibit Highlights Gullah Geechee Resilience and Hidden Histories
New Exhibit Highlights Gullah Geechee Resilience and Hidden Histories
exhibit runs from February 1 to April 10 in the Main Gallery
Beach Institute, museum Savannah, Georgia
To learn more, visit beachinstitute.org or call 912-335-8868
[Savannah, GA, February 1]—The Beach Institute African American Cultural Center proudly presents Roots and Realities, a powerful art exhibit exploring the Gullah Geechee people's vibrant culture and untold stories. Featuring the works of renowned artists Amiri Farris and Isaac McCaslin, the exhibit invites audiences to reflect on the beauty of resilience while honoring the tragedies that have shaped history.
Stay up to date with the latest happenings in the world of Amiri’s art and creative journey. Here, you’ll find news about his latest projects, exhibitions, and collaborations, as well as insights into the art and creative fields that inspire him. From cultural influences to emerging trends, Amiri stays engaged with the evolving landscape of contemporary art, sharing his perspectives and discoveries along the way.
Painters as Storytellers: Artists to Watch and Collect in 2025
In 2025, the art world is buzzing with a renewed focus on painters who weave powerful narratives into their work. These storytellers capture history, culture, and emotion with each brushstroke, creating pieces that resonate deeply with collectors and audiences alike. Among this esteemed group, Amiri has been named one of the “Storytellers to Collect in 2025,” a recognition that celebrates their unique ability to blend art and heritage into meaningful visual narratives.
For collectors, Amiri’s art represents not only a visually stunning addition to any collection but also an investment in an artist whose work speaks to the heart of modern storytelling. As 2025 unfolds, Amiri’s pieces continue to gain recognition for their emotional depth, cultural significance, and timeless appeal, making Amiri an artist to watch and collect this year.
Recent Art news
Amiri Farris, an acclaimed artist known for his vibrant storytelling and connection to Gullah Geechee heritage, has created a stunning large-scale original artwork for the Culinary Institute of the South. This piece celebrates the rich foodways of the Gullah Geechee culture, highlighting the history, traditions, and flavors that have shaped Southern cuisine.
Through dynamic illustrations and his signature indigo drips, Amiri brings to life iconic elements of Southern food, from seafood like shrimp and oysters to fresh produce and staple dishes deeply rooted in Gullah Geechee traditions. The artwork serves as both an homage to the culinary ingenuity of the Sea Islands and a vibrant educational tool for students and visitors, showcasing the cultural legacy that continues to influence Southern cuisine today. With this installation, Amiri invites viewers to explore the intersection of art, food, and heritage in an engaging and visually captivating way.
Amiri Farris was honored to create a stunning new mural for the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Marine Science Building. As part of his artist-in-residence program, Amiri collaborated closely with faculty and students to develop a vibrant public artwork that celebrates the rich and diverse ecosystems of the Lowcountry. Inspired by the region’s unique coastal environment, the mural highlights the interconnected relationship between marine life, wetlands, and the surrounding community.
Signature Artwork for Chef’s Table Event
Amiri recently created a signature painting for the Chef’s Table event, sponsored by the Technical College of the Lowcountry. Commissioned to raise funds for the Culinary Institute of the South in Bluffton, South Carolina, the artwork was successfully sold and is now part of a private collection. Titled Gullah geechee Food Ways, the piece beautifully illustrates various elements of Gullah food and culture in the Lowcountry, celebrating the region’s rich culinary heritage through Amiri’s distinctive artistic style.
Amiri Farris was recently recognized as one of the 12 Black Leaders to Know in South Carolina by The Post and Courier Charleston. Each year, the publication selects 12 individuals who are making a significant impact across the state. Being chosen for this honor is a meaningful acknowledgment of Amiri’s contributions to the arts and his dedication to cultural expression and community engagement.
Bicentennial Heirloom,” paper and acrylic, a collaborative piece created with patients, staff and families at MUSC University Hospital in Charleston.
Amiri Farris was selected as an artist for the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Bicentennial Art Collection in Charleston. In celebration of MUSC’s 200th anniversary, the collection was created to reflect the institution’s guiding principles through the transformative power of art. Designed to inspire emotion, encourage reflection, and promote healing, the Bicentennial Art Collection is proudly displayed both online and within the MUSC James W. Colbert Education Center and Library on the Charleston campus.
Amiri Farris was honored to be featured in Savannah Magazine as one of the Artists to Know and Watch. This recognition highlights his innovative approach to art and his ongoing contributions to the creative community.
The Penn Center National Historic Landmark District, a partnership between South Carolina’s Penn Center and the Willson Center for Humanities and Arts, has named Amiri Geuka Farris as its 2024 artist in residence. Through the residency and its theme of “Land and Justice,” Farris will engage with the history and heritage of Penn Center, located on St. Helena Island, and with its surrounding community in the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.
Farris is a Bluffton, SC-based interdisciplinary artist whose work has been featured in more than 50 solo exhibitions and juried museum shows nationally and internationally.
“For my Culture & Community residency I plan on creating a body of work focused on Gullah Geechee culture, land conservation, nature, and heirs’ property, which I plan to explore through various media including photography and painting,” he said. “By examining these themes, I hope to create meaningful works that can be shared with the community and exhibited in museums and galleries.”
Farris was appointed to the residency by a committee including members of cultural and artistic organizations connected to Penn Center
“Amiri Geuka Farris’s experience as a preservationist, educator, musical performer, videographer, and cultural curator places his bold and brilliant art at the intersection of people, place, and time,” said Penn board member Tia Powell Harris, vice president for education and community engagement at New York City Center, who served on the selection committee.
“His art is often rooted in the legacy of the Gullah Geechee heritage and his desire to uplift the tenacity of the Gullah people,” Harris said. “We look forward with great anticipation to Amiri’s residency at the historic Penn Center and to the dynamic visual stories that will emerge from his interactions with our supportive staff and board, a welcoming community, and the indomitable spirit of the elders past and present, who have served as stewards of the land.”
Penn Center is a nonprofit organization committed to African American education, community development, and social justice. It also serves as a gathering place for meetings, educational institutions, and planning activities within the Sea Island Gullah Geechee communities. It sits on the historic campus of Penn School, founded in 1862 to provide education to African Americans who until then had been enslaved in the Sea Islands region. Following the school’s closure in 1948, the site served as a sanctuary for civil rights organizers in the 1960s, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
I loved creating this recent mural at the boys and girls club of the Lowcountry in Savannah Georgia. I worked with the members there to create this one of a kind, public art piece that explores reading and technology.
While the Hilton Head Concours doesn’t have an official artist in residence, one can easily make the case that it’s Amiri Farris. created the poster depicting the Flights & Fancy Aeroport Gala since that event’s inception in 2016. This year he’s also painting each of the 20 Best of Show cars and presenting the originals to the owners.
Amiri Farris was honored to receive a studio visit from renowned New York art critic Jerry Saltz. Known for his insightful and influential commentary on contemporary art, Saltz’s visit provided a unique opportunity for in-depth discussions about Amiri’s creative process, inspirations, and artistic vision.
This year’s MOJA Arts Festival poster vibrates with emotion and texture. Although it’s a two-dimensional image, it seems to thrum with a pounding drum rhythm. You can feel the movement of dancing. Vibrant colors pleasantly sting your eyes. The piece, commissioned this year, offers a rich multidimensional texture created by Bluffton artist Amiri Gueka Farris that shimmers, haunts and spins.
Called “MOJA Dance: Past, present and future,” the work was created in September for the Festival, which runs Sept. 29-Oct. 9 in Charleston.
Amiri the artist created a vibrant Gullah Geechee-themed mural at the Fairity store in Atlanta’s Lenox Square Mall. This dynamic artwork celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Gullah Geechee people, blending traditional elements with Amiri’s signature style. Through bold colors, intricate patterns, and symbolic imagery, the mural pays homage to the enduring legacy of the Gullah Geechee community, bringing their stories to life in a contemporary retail space.
Ameri, the artist
created a captivating series of works for the Culinary Institute of the South, titled The Bee Awesome Series. This collection explores the vital role of pollination in our ecosystem, focusing on the significance of bees and their profound impact on both the environment and our food systems. Through vibrant colors, layered textures, and symbolic imagery, Amiri brings attention to the interconnectedness of nature and humanity, emphasizing the delicate balance required to sustain life.
The Bee Awesome Series serves as both an educational and artistic endeavor, encouraging viewers to reflect on the critical contributions of pollinators in agriculture and biodiversity. The series highlights the beauty and resilience of bees while addressing pressing environmental concerns such as habitat loss and climate change. By merging art with ecological awareness, Amiri’s work inspires a deeper appreciation for the natural world and the essential role pollinators play in our everyday lives. This collaboration with the Culinary Institute of the South underscores the institute’s commitment to sustainability and innovation within the culinary arts, making The Bee Awesome Series a meaningful addition to their space.
