BIO
Westen Charles is a Miami-based artist and teacher who co-founded the non-profit art space Locust Projects. Charles is known for creating multi-layered, subtly psychological works. His elaborate installations are unsettling and unforgettable. Characterized by a truly unique sensibility, Charles has worked with various materials such as bowling balls, stuffed animals, coconuts, laundry lint and poker chips. He is adept in creating conceptual twists with sophisticated economy. Charles delivers a quirky, visually riveting allure through manipulating form and function with razor sharp ingenuity.
EDUCATION
1999 MFA University of Miami
1995 BFA Pratt Institute
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2019 CURFEW TOWER “Searching for the Miraculous” Cushendall, Northern Ireland
2019 KALEIDOSCOPE “The Moore Space”
2017 HISTORY MIAMI “Memory Lab” Jeff's Club installation
2016 LOCUST PROJECTS “Spring Fling” Curated by Clair Breukel
FROST MUSEUM “Aesthetics & Values” Straperlo Series
2015 100+ DEGREES IN THE SHADE Curated by Jane Hart
2013 LOCUST PROJECTS “SMASH AND GRAB” Miami, FL
2012 LOEWS HOTEL, ART BASEL “YOGART” Sculptural Installation, Miami Beach, FL
2011 SOUTH FLORIDA ART CENTER “WHIM” Miami Beach, FL
2006 LOCUST PROJECTS “SMASH AND GRAB” Miami, FL
2002 UNIVERSITY GALLERY FAU “The Longest Winter” Boca Raton, FL Curated by Gean Moreno
FORT LAUDERDALE MUSEUM “Consortium Fellowship Recipients” Fort Lauderdale, FL
STEFEN STUX GALLERY “Video Windows” NYC, Curated by Omar Lopez-Chahaud
WOOSTER PROJECTS “MIAMI IN MANHATTAN" New York, NYC.
PRATT MANHATTAN “PRATT ALUMNI EXHIBITION”NYC, Juried by Fereshteh Daftari Daftari, MOMA NY
2001 NASH HOTEL “FAST FORWARD MIAMI”
IV BIENAL DEL CARIBE “TIERRA CALIENTE” Santo Domingo, Dominic Republic
OFICINAS CULTURAIS “PLATFORM PLEDGE” Sao Paulo, Brazil
2000 FREDRIC SNITZER “ACCOLADES”, Miami, FL
NFA SPACE “IT DOESN’T MATTER IF IT’S TRUE” Chicago, IL
MOCA MIAMI “MAKING ART IN MIAMI” (TRAVELS IN HYPER REALITY) N. Miami, FL
RINGLING MUSEUM OF ART “SARASOTA BIENNIAL 2000” Sarasota, FL
1999 ESPIRITO SANTO BANK “DEPARTING PERSPECTIVES” Curated by Fred Snitzer Miami, FL
FORT LAUDERDALE MUSEUM “THE LINTBALL PROJECT” (HORTT 41) Fort LauderdaleE, FL
THE LOWE MUSEUM “THE COUCH PROJECT” Coral Gables, FL
LOCUST PROJECTS “Pigs & Lint” Miami, FL