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