SAIC SHOWS 2026 GRADUATE EXHIBITIONS

Graduates

SAIC SHOWS 2026 GRADUATE EXHIBITIONS

Carl Joe Williams

Master of Fine Arts in Studio, Painting and Drawing

Low-Residency MFA Exhibition

carl_joe_williams@yahoo.com

carljoewilliams.com

Carl Joe Williams is an African American artist whose diverse practice spans multimedia painting, sculpture, and interdisciplinary installations. By transforming found objects into sculptural narratives, his work addresses profound societal and historical concerns. Also an accomplished musician, Williams frequently merges his original musical compositions with his visual art, viewing both as natural extensions of one another.

Driven by a desire to inspire and benefit humanity, Williams is deeply involved in community collaborations. He co-founded Blights Out, a community-led initiative for equitable neighborhood development in New Orleans, and is a founding member of the Level Artist Collective.

Trained at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and the Atlanta College of Art (BFA), Williams was prominently featured in the Crystal Bridges documentary State of the Art. His work has been widely exhibited, including at the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Wadsworth Atheneum, and is held in permanent collections like the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art.

Carl Joe Williams - After Big Mama Passed

After Big Mama Passed, KODAK Digital Still Camera, painting on door

Carl Joe Williams - Unity

Unity, steel and aluminum and painting 16ft x 8ft

Carl Joe Williams - Self Portrait of the Artist as an Essence, Clarence and Annie Williams, the Early Years

Self Portrait of the Artist as an Essence, Clarence and Annie Williams, the Early Years, Painting on door, 75x73

Carl Joe Williams - Prayers for JoJo

Prayers for JoJo

One of my early TV sculptures from 2015

Carl Joe Williams - 70s Thug gets bitch slapped by his Mama

70s Thug gets bitch slapped by his Mama

One of my early TV sculptures from 2013

My practice centers on creating multimodal works designed to heal and restore the fragmented self. While the transformation of found objects physically grounds my work, I envision my video sculptures as psychic portals. By integrating discarded materials with contemporary digital displays and original sound design, these installations bridge the gap between past and present. They are created to facilitate a deeper way of seeing, one that honors and acknowledges the inherent wholeness of the human experience.

Through my exploration of communal history and cultural preservation, my art serves as a space for reinterpreting historical narratives and reclaiming personal identity. Every element, from the tactile nature of a repurposed painted object to the rhythmic pulse of my original musical compositions, is intentionally woven together. Ultimately, these multifaceted environments invite the viewer into a restorative continuum, aiming to heal divisions and awaken a profound recognition of our shared, interconnected strength and humanity.