Paintings
About
Patrick Quarm (b. 1988, Ghana) lives and works in Takoradi, Ghana. He graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, in 2012 with a BFA in Painting, before going on to study a Masters of Fine Art at Texas Tech University, which he completed in 2018. Recent solo exhibitions include Albertz Benda Gallery, New York, NY (2020), N'Namdi Contemporary, Miami, FL (2019) and Satellite Gallery, Lubbock, TX (2018). Institutional exhibitions include Contemporary Art Museum Plainview, Plainview, TX (2020); Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, Grand Rapids, MI (2020); Oso Bay Biennial XX, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX (2018); Rockport Center for the Arts, Rockport, TX (2018) and Caviel Museum of African American History, Lubbock, TX (2018).
Artist Statement
I grew up in the postcolonial twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana, which is marked with historical sites tracing the memory of imperialism. My presence and engagement with these residues of imperialism became the formative influence in how I understood and related with my environment. Out of my family home, I am known as Nzema, which is the ethnic group to which I belong. When I am located outside Ghana and in another African country, I am known as a Ghanaian. When placed outside Africa, in the United States, I am known as an African. This is how my identity connects to space and place be it local or foreign. I investigate the various complexities that compose the modern history of social evolution as a continuous process influenced by political, social, historical and immediate cultural expression. It is an attempt to unravel and merge these layers as a way of initiating a conversation around the expanded notion of cultural hybridity. One that merges histories and experiences and evolves a unique third personality or character.
My paintings function as a form of cultural archeology, wherein I seek to excavate the layers of history that have been deposited over time. This is evident in the processes of layering, cutting and erasure. Through these I attain intricate in-between spaces, this becomes a way to develop understanding from the exterior issues to deeper truths which are hidden and shielded from view. A systematic buildup of true or false cores within which the hybrid becomes its author. This results in a painting this is characterized by a visual topography, commanding the experience and engagement of the viewer. I employ a juxtaposition of the traditional Western style of painting with African print fabrics as a metaphor to engage the dialogue of cultural hybrid and to compose an imagery that references the merging point of both cultures and further question what is true or false within the contemporary Ghanaian cultural third space.
CV
EDUCATION
2015–18 MFA Painting and Drawing, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
2008–12 BFA Painting, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020 Salvaged Imeprial, Albertz Benda Gallery, New York, New York
2019 Paradox: Surfaces of Self, N’Namdi Contemporary Miami. Miami, Florida
2018 Parallel Identities: Patterns of Place, Satellite Gallery, Lubbock, Texas
2017 There is Only One Side, CASP Studio 4, Lubbock, Texas. Curated by Victoria Marie Bee
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2020 INSIGHT, Pippy Houldsworth Gallery. Mayfair, London
2020 BLACK VOICES/BLACK MICROCOSM, CFHILL. Stockholm, Sweden
2020 Fragmented Bodies, Albertz Benda Gallery. New York, New York
2020 “More is More”, Contemporary Art Museum Plainview. Plainview, Texas
2020 “Translating Valence”, Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts (UICA). Grand Rapids, MI
2019 Untitled Art Fair, Albertz Benda Gallery. Miami, Florida
2019 Anansesem, Albertz Benda Gallery. New York, New York
Two person exhibition: Conrad Egyir and Patrick Quarm.
2019 Red Bull Artist in Resident Group Show, Red Bull House of Arts. Detroit, Michigan
2019 SNOW DAY, Thierry Goldberg Gallery. New York, New York.
2018 Prizm Art Fair, N’Namdi Contemporary Miami. Miami, Florida
2018 HOMEMADE, Library Street Art Collective. Detroit, Michigan. Curated by McArthur Binion
2018 PLACE, Norwest Gallery, Detroit, Michigan. Curated by Asia Hamilton
2018 Oso Bay Biennial XX: Realism Redux, Texas A&M University. Corpus Christi, TX
2018 Rising Eyes of Texas, Rockport Center for the arts, Rockport, Texas. Curated by Rainey Knudson
2018 West Meets West: Illuminated Figures, Caviel Museum of African America History, Lubbock, Texas.
Two person exhibition: Prof. Alexander Bostic and Patrick Quarm. Curated by Lydia Thompson.
2018 Figure Resuscitation, Satellite Gallery, Lubbock, Texas. Curated by Jeramiah Macha and Samantha
Resendez.
2017 Peckham International Art Fair (PIAF), Copeland Park & Bussey Building, London, England
2016 Annual MFA Show, Landmark Gallery, Lubbock, Texas. Curated by Landmark Gallery.
2015 Annual MFA Show, Landmark Gallery, Lubbock, Texas. Curated by Landmark Gallery.
2012 End of Year, K.N.U.S.T Museum, Kumasi, Ghana. Curated by KNUST Museum
2011 Illumination, K.N.U.S.T Museum, Kumasi, Ghana. Curated by Michael Sarkodie
2013 Art, Trade &Technology Fair, K.N.U.S.T Museum, Kumasi, Ghana. Curated by KNUST Museum
2011 Art, Trade &Technology Fair, K.N.U.S.T Museum, Kumasi, Ghana. Curated by KNUST Museum
2009 Art, Trade &Technology Fair, K.N.U.S.T Museum, Kumasi, Ghana. Curated by KNUST Museum
AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES
2019 Red Bull House of Art Artist in Residence, Detroit, MI (January-April)
2018 Thomas ‘Curry’ Roberts- Regent Endowment Art Scholarship, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
2017 Alan and Lee Ann White Regents Endowment Visual & Performing Arts, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Graduate Fellowship Award, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
2016 Graduate Fellowship Award, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Helen Devitt Jones Talent Based Scholarship, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
2015 Graduate Fellowship Award, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Helen Devitt Jones Talent Based Scholarship, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
2006 Visual Art Student Award, Prempeh College, Kumasi, Ghana
PUBLICATIONS
2020 Art of Choice, “Patrick Quarm Brings Together A Hybridized Society”, February 5, New York, New York
https://www.artofchoice.co/patrick-quarm-brings-together-a-hybridized-society/
2020 Sugarcane Magazine, “REVIEW: AFRICAN ARTIST TO WATCH BRINGS COLOR TO MIAMI”, January 13,” Miami, FL
https://sugarcanemag.com/2020/01/review-african-artist-to-watch-brings-color-to-miami/
2019 Alive Magazine. “What Is It To Become: The Astonishing Art of Patrick Quarm, July 17”
http://alivemag.com/what-it-is-to-become-the-astonishing-art-of-patrick-quarm/
2018 ARTFORUM. “Red Bull Arts Detroit Announces Recipients Of Expanded Residency And Fellowship Program, December 27” Detroit, Mi.
https://www.artforum.com/news/red-bull-arts-detroit-announces-recipients-of-expanded-residency-and- fellowship-program-78228
2018 HYPERALLERGIC. “In Miami, a Fair for Artists from Africa and the African Diaspora Shines Again, December 7,” Miami, FL.
https://hyperallergic.com/474946/prizm-art-fair-2018-miami/
2018 TTU Discoveries Magazine Spring 2018. “Patrick Quarm: Exploring Identity Through Art, April 16,” Lubbock, Texas.
https://www.depts.ttu.edu/vpr/discoveries/
2018 Glasstire. “Patrick Quarm’s Parallel Identities, April 11,” Houston, Texas.
http://glasstire.com/2018/04/11/patrick-quarms-parallel-identities/
2018 thebowerbird. “Patrick Quarm’s Parallel Identities, April 9,” Lubbock, Texas.
http://www.thebowerbirdlbk.com/single-post/2018/04/09/Patrick-Quarm-Parallel-Identities
2018 Texas Tech Today. “Patrick Quarm: Exploring Identity Through Art, April 5,” Lubbock, Texas.
http://today.ttu.edu/posts/2018/04/patrick-quarm
2018 Daily Toreador.com. “FFAT Exhibit to Honor African-American History Month, February 28,” Lubbock, Texas.
http://www.dailytoreador.com/lavida/ffat-exhibit-to-honor-african-american-history month/article_6cae93f8- 1cfc-11e8-9965- 93d03a5fe7f8.html
2018 Texas Tech Today. “Graduate Student Artist to Discuss African-American History Month Exhibition, February 27,” Lubbock, Texas.
http://today.ttu.edu/posts/2018/02/adv-african-american-history-exhibit
2018 Fox34.com, “West Meets West’ Exhibit Highlights African and African-American Culture, February 01,” Lubbock, Texas.
http://www.fox34.com/story/37629086/west-meets-west-exhibit-highlights-african-and-african-american- culture
2017 thebowerBird, “Fan Girl: Patrick Quarm, September 01,” Lubbock, Texas
http://www.thebowerbirdlbk.com/single-post/2017/09/01/Fan-Girl-Patrick-Quarm
2017 Trove54 “Featured Artist: Patrick Quarm, February 20, London.
https://trove54.org/featured-artist-patrick-quarm/
2012 Oil City Magazine, Western Region Artist, July 1, Takoradi, Ghana