LORNA WILLIAMS

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana


EDUCATION

2024-2026 Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, MFA

2008-2010      Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD, BFA

2009               Yale University School of Art: Summer Programs, Norfolk, CT 

2006-2008     Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA

2005-2006     School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) Boston, MA

2001-2004      NOCCA/Riverfront (New Orleans Center for Creative Arts),                                    

                      New Orleans, LA

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2022             Meta-retrospect, Antenna Gallery, New Orleans, La

2017              lo·cus, 5 Press Gallery, New Orleans, La

2016              inˈherənt lore, Saint Heron House, New Orleans, La

2016              inˈherənt lore, Barrister’s Gallery, New Orleans, La

2016              aimed sensory, Barrister’s Gallery, New Orleans, La

2015              nothing (k)new, AIR Space Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2013              Exposure, Expo Chicago, Chicago, IL   

2013              appositions: still / birth / shit, DODGE Gallery, New York, NY

2011              brown baby, DODGE Gallery, New York, NY

2009             redefining womb space, Nesto Gallery, Milton Academy, Milton, MA

2008             work and worship stem from the same root, Judi Rotenberg Gallery, 

                      Boston, MA

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025 As Land Remembers, Marian Goodman Gallery, New York, NY

2025 Signal Boost, Main Projects, Richmond, VA

2020             Mending the Sky, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, La

2019              That Land That I Live In, Matthew Brown Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Ca

2018        Womxn on Womxn, Gochi’s Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca

2017              Paper Menagerie, 5 Press Gallery, New Orleans, La

2015              Context Art Fair, Miami, Fl                                                                                                                                                                                       

2014              we seemed to be unanimously elected, Cindy Rucker Gallery, 

                      New York, NY                  

2014              Afrofuturism, Samek Art Gallery, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA

2012         The Bearden Project, Studio Museum Harlem, NY           


BIBLIOGRAPHY

2017             D’Addario, John, “There’s more than meets the eye”, New Orleans Advocate, 

                     Oct. 2017. 

2016             Crawford, Kelly, “Artist in their own words: Lorna Williams” NolaVie, Dec.

2014             Ossei-Mensah, Larry, “Emerging Modern Artists of 2014”, Uptown Magazine,     

                    April. 

2013             Eler, Alicia, “The Girl Gore Aesthetics of White Lace, Ghosted Bodies, and  

                    Animal Menageries at Expo Chicago”, Hyperallergic, September.

2013             Miller, Leigh Anne, ‘’The Lookout: A Weekly Guide to Shows You Won’t Want     

                     to Miss’’, Art in America, June.

2013             Plagens, Peter, “A Rock Shop, Pet Snakes and Abstracts”, The Wall Street 

                     Journal, May.

2012             Chou, Kimberly, “Harlem’s Renaissance Man”, The Harlem Times, August.

2012             Karadi, Kika, “Interview with Lorna Williams,” FLATT Magazine, May.

2011              Johnson, Ken, “Art Review: Lorna Williams, brown baby,” The New York      

                     Times, September.

2011             Gaebe, Carly, “Tree of Life: Q+A with Lorna Williams,” Art in America, 

                     September.

2011             Halle, Howard, “Your Guide to Lower East Side Shows,” Time Out New York, 

                    September.

2011             Miranda, Carolina, “Must See Arts in the City,” WNYC, September.

2009           McQuaid, Cate, “Theme with ill fitting variations,” The Boston Globe, July.

2007           Phillips, Sephen Bennett, New American Paintings No.69, Mid-Atlantic Edition



RESIDENCIES

2025             Rauschenberg Residency, Captiva Island, FL

2024 Deniston Hill Residency, Catskills, NY

2017              Joan Mitchell Center Residency, New Orleans, La

2015              Swim Pony Performing Arts: Cross Pollination Project, Philadelphia, PA

2014              40th Street Artist In Residence Program, Philadelphia, PA

2012              Brandywine Workshop Residency, Philadelphia, PA



AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2025 Paul F. Miller Sculpture Scholarship

2022 National Performance Network, Take Notice Fund

2017             Art Matters Foundation Grant

2017             Antenna Gallery: Louisiana Open Call 2017 

2013             Art and Change Grant, Leeway Foundation

2010             Santa Farinella Sngiamo General Fine Arts Scholarship

2009            Ellen Battell Stockel Fellowship Recipient, Yale University, School of Art,   

                     Norfolk Program

2009            Helen C. Stevens Scholarship for Rising Senior General Fine Arts Majors



COLLECTIONS

                   Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection

Columbus Museum of Art

                     Arthur Lewis and Hau Nguyen Collection 

                     New Orleans Museum of Art

                     A.C. Hudgins Collection

                     Peggy Cooper Cafritz Collection

                     21C Museum Collection

                     Pizzuti Collection

                     Wellington Management Collection