Bio
Meryt is a visual artist with a concentration in oil painting and photography. She studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design and the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts. She has shown her work nationally and in her home town of New Orleans, including the Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans Museum of Art, African American Museum, McKenna Museum and the Ashe Center for the Arts.
Meryt’s artistic vision has been shaped by her extensive travel to over 75 countries and all seven continents. Meryt trained as a Registered Nurse, which aids her involvement with women’s health projects in Africa.
Meryt is passionate about wild animal conservation. She has been a supporter of Save The Elephants and more than seven other endangered or vulnerable animal species through the Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN). Through the WCN she has met many inspirational people working in the field and has visited their projects on site. She has witnessed the many ways in which community involvement is essential for the survival of these animals.
Artist Statement
Having been a world traveler for most of my life, I feel fortunate to be able to combine my love of travel and the visual arts.
I want to share images of the people and places I have been lucky enough to encounter and to document some of the unique dress, culture and tradition in our rapidly changing world. I travel with a camera, a sketch book and a journal to record my senses, experiences and environment. When painting in oils, I usually paint traditionally. Beginning with an underpainting or grisaille, I then use multiple layers of paint and thin glazes. These paintings often take months to complete.
I also use photography as another creative medium. The photograph is such a wonderful tool to tell a story, capture a moment and evoke many different responses from the viewer. I find that having a camera opens doors into peoples lives that would not have been so easy without one. Even with language barriers people are often happy to share their stories with me.
EDUCATION
Savannah College of Art and Design.Savannah,Ga 1994-1998
New Orleans Academy of Fine Art,New Orleans,La 1998-2000
Photography Workshops with Andy Levin in New Orleans, La 12/2010 and 3/2011
‘Momenta’ Photography Workshop in Vietnam 4/2011
AWARDS
Featured Artist for ‘Armstrong Parks Jazz in the Park’. Image of my painting ‘Baby Doll Merline ‘printed on 22 New Orleans RTA buses and 3 Billboards. Sept.-Nov.2015
Featured Artist, B.E.C.A Gallery. 12x12x122, New Orleans, La 06/2009 (22 featured out of 122)
Merit Award- University of Mobile,Mobile, Al 2004
Best in Show – Zigler Museum,Jennings,La 2002
PUBLIC COLLECTION
Permanent Collection of New Orleans Museum of Art, Katrina Memorial Photographic Portfolio.
PUBLICATIONS
Gambit Weekly 09/2/08
Baton Rouge Advocate 02/2/08
Exhibit Catalog,National Conference of Artists Tenth Annual Invitational, Dr.Martin Luther King,Jr Commemorative Art Exhibit. N.O.A.M.A, New orleans, La 01/08
New Orleans Museum of Art ‘Katrina Exposed A Photographic Reckoning’ Published 2006
Mobile Register,04/04
Mobile Register, 10/03
Red Dot magazine,02-03/ 2002
TELEVISION
African Roots 12/10/07
African Roots 6/1/04
Local Artist Review 5/22/04
ILLUSTRATION FOR CD
‘Rise’ Chris Thomas King. April 2006
EXHIBITIONS
Sullivan Gallery, New Orleans,La. Solo Show in conjunction with Photo Nola “ Mama Tembos : Elephant Mothers” (December 2019 - January 2020)
Ashe Center, New Orleans,La “Martin Luther King Show” (January -February) 2019
New Orleans Art Center,”Duck Sauce” A Group show presented by Dapper Bruce Lafitte (April-May) 2016
New Orleans Art Center, “La Femme Show” (March-April) 2016
Barristers Gallery,New Orleans,La ‘Fading Away’ (November) 2015
McKenna African American Museum,New Orleans,La “Contemporary Artists Respond to the New Orleans Baby Dolls’ (February -June) 2015
Ashe Center, New Orleans,La “Martin Luther King Show” (January -March) 2013
“NOLA NOW-Figurative” Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans,La (May -July) 2010
‘Los Invisibles’ Photography Exhibit, Barristers Gallery,New Orleans,La 09/2010
New Orleans African American Museum, New Orleans,La (Jan – March) 2010
B.E.C.A Gallery “12x12x122 Show” New Orleans, La 06/2009
New Orleans African American Museum, New Orleans,La (January -March) 2009
Loyola University Gallery “Pencil and Paper Show” ,New Orleans,La (May - Sept.) 2008
1st International Art Exhibit, Tulane University,New Orleans,La (February) 2008
New Orleans African American Museum New Orleans,La (January -March) 2008
New Orleans African American Museum New Orleans,La (January-March) 2007
New Orleans Museum of Art “Katrina Exposed”New Orleans,La (May-July) 2006
Tulane University,New Orleans, Femme Festival,New Orleans,La (March)2006
Arts Club New York, N.Y (November) 2005
New Orleans African American Museum,New Orleans,La (February-June) 2005
Zigler Museum ,Jennings, La (March-May)2005
Postcards from the C.A.C .Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans,La 2004
Art Stream Trailer and Virtual Gallery, New Orleans,La 2004
Mobile Museum of Art Mobile, Al 11/04
University of Mobile,Mobile, Al 04/04
Mobile Museum of Art,Mobile, Al. 11/03
Arts and Design Society, Fort Walton Beach Fl 05/03
University of Mobile,Mobile, Al 04/03
New Orleans African American Museum,New Orleans,La 02-06/2003
Zigler Museum Jennings, La 09/02
New Orleans African American Museum,New Orleans,La 02-06/2001
New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts,New Orleans,La 06/99
Savannah College of Art and Design,Savannah, Ga 02/98