Introducing Watson Mere, the Haitian artist infusing spirituality, culture and symbolism into his work!

First, who is Watson Mere? Tell me more about your background and experience.
I am a visual artist that is currently and constantly in a state of evolution when it comes to creating artistic representations of the vast complexities of the African diaspora. I am originally from the town of Belle Glade, FL but I currently live in Brooklyn and maintain a studio in Midtown Manhattan, New York. 

I’ve been an exhibiting visual artist for the past seven years and I’ve had the opportunity to have my work displayed in exhibitions in various locations including New York City, Venice Italy, the United Kingdom, Philadelphia, and many others.

Through the years I have been honored to receive such awards and recognition for my work, which include the Elizabeth Foundation of the Arts Studio Program in 2022, the Jean-Michel Basquiat Award from Creole Image Honors in 2018, the New Futures Award from The Other Art Fair in 2021, and the NextGen 10 in Philanthropy, Art, & Culture from C-Suite Quarterly in 2018, amongst others.

What got you into painting, and at what age did you start?
I’ve been creating art since I was a toddler. I was unable to speak until the age of 5 and was taught to draw to communicate at about the age of 2. Once I learned how to speak I never stopped creating artwork. My inability to speak at the toddler and pre-schooler age led me to become incredibly observant and honed my ability to translate these internal and external observations into art. In a sense, for my entire life art has been a constant vehicle I have utilized to express myself and my perspectives on this reality. Once I learned about the story of Jean-Michel Basquiat I was greatly inspired and received a vision of what I could do with this gift of creating art that I received.

Are there any artists you admire who draw inspiration from your work?
I’ve always been grateful towards Basquiat in the sense of how he has inspired and opened up the doors in many ways for black artists. This and the fact that he has Haitian roots have been something that has influenced me as an artist since I began this journey. I’ve always been inspired by Picasso but not only by his work but also by how he was able to drive the zeitgeist of art well into his elder years. The way he was able to live the entirety of his life as a piece of art in itself has always been a component of him that has inveigled my creativity even beyond the canvas. The works of Kara Walker, Faith Ringgold, Gordon Parks, Carrie Mae Weems, and Titus Kaphar and the fearlessness they all have had to speak truth to power in their work have always planted seeds of strength in me to do the same.

You are open about having no formal training and have received many awards and recognition. What advice would you give others on creating their path like you?
I always encourage those who are unsure about how to start the journey of being an artist to get out of their own way and to move completely within their creativity…without fear. Although I never received any formal training I held tight to the vision I received in my teenage years of becoming a fine artist and allowed this vision to be the light that has continued to carry me through this path that has no real blueprint or manual. I would also say that believing in yourself and this gift that you’ve been blessed with is key, especially in those moments when your self-doubt starts to kick in when the result you’ve been wanting are not there and present. Believe and trust in the visions.

How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I would describe myself as an observer. I am constantly observing the world and myself internally. I take these observations, place them into my imagination and create the visions that come out of my imagination’s gaze. I am an artist that is constantly evolving because my life and my perspective on it are in a constant state of evolution. As of recent I have been honored to receive studio space at the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts in Midtown Manhattan. Having this studio space has allowed me to brush shoulders with some of the best artists in the world, who are creating an array of different forms of art. The exposure to this wide range of artistic expressions has encouraged me to experiment with different mediums to express my observations and I am very excited to eventually share how my experience since being with the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts has molded my work and me as an artist and human.

With Haitian descent, how are your culture and heritage reflected in your work?
My work comes from a very spiritual foundation, which is Haitian culture, a culture that is extremely planted within art and the spiritual world. Because of this, I feel that there is a responsibility bestowed upon myself and my contemporary Haitian artist to continue the legacy and history of the world-renowned expression that is Haitian art. The spiritual components of Haitian culture are something that will always be present within my work, whether it be the symbolism or themes of Haitian mythology.

Your art has a critical storytelling aspect that ties together Black culture and ancient African symbolism. I love that and would like to know when you knew your art would take that direction.
Storytelling has been something that has been a part of my art since my early years of creating. I started to create comic books while I was in elementary school and this developed my ability to create characters, concepts, and storylines. I began to learn more about ancient African history around 2014 and eventually stumbled upon different African symbolisms and mythologies. I became so inspired by the fact that many of these symbols and mythological stories had stood the test of time, colonialism, and slavery and felt the intense urge to do my part in ensuring they continue their march through our history by placing them in my artwork.

When it comes to your art, what are some of your favorite colors to use and why?
As of now my palette is very vibrant and colorful. This comes from a few things. I am originally from South Florida and subconsciously vibrant colors have always shown up in my artwork because of my environment. Haitian art also utilizes a particularly vibrant color palette and being exposed to it from an early age within my household and community played a pivotal part in the colors I would be most drawn to. I have been living in New York City since 2018 however and I can slowly start to see how not only the color schemes but also the personality of the city is beginning to seep in and shape the pieces I am currently creating. 

In a quote, you stated you want to give people something that makes them think and also what they don’t see daily. Why is that important to you, and how do you reflect it in your art?
I believe we live in an age of groupthink and the majority of people’s thoughts and opinions are usually curated by an algorithm, from social media, tv, movies, and music. This massive groupthink has robbed people of the ability to think on their own. My answer to this has been to create artwork filled with symbolisms and themes that challenge the viewer’s ideologies and force them to think critically about what the piece says to them. I would rather not give descriptions of my pieces because I believe that describing my work would box in the imagination of the viewer and take away their ability to truly examine what the piece personally says to them.

What legacy do you want to leave in the world of art?
I would like to leave a legacy that continues to inspire generations of black artists to embark on the exhilarating journey of living and breathing within their creativity without fear. I often think about the day I first learned about Basquiat’s story and how it profoundly affected what I believed could be possible with creating art. I would like to do the same for another black kid who is gifted but lost and unsure about the future. I would also want my legacy to be one that helps to uplift the prestige and respect of black artistry across the board and ultimately create artistic expressions that return the body, mind, and spirit of the diaspora as a whole to its forgotten mantle.

Make sure to stay connected with Watson Mere by following him @artofmere_