Over the course of nearly five decades, Carrie Mae Weems has earned success as a multimedia artist, using photographs, fiber arts, video, digital images and installation to investigate race, class, gender and power. Weems’ subjects range from intimate images of family to archival images of enslaved Africans to invite viewers to consider how stereotypes and biases inform our behavior and perceptions of others. Weems’ recent work also incorporates electoral politics: In 2016, Weems created a video to galvanize African American voters to vote against Donald Trump. Two years later, she created a political billboard to inspire similar action in the 2018 midterm election. Weems is a recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Award and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Weems is a recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Award and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award.”