Vanessa Renee Williams, a resident of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is the very proud mother of one daughter, Lisa J. Locke, Esq.
Artist James Nyika paints the glowing atmosphere of cities across the world. As a child growing up in Kenya, he found art materials at the student bookshop and also borrowed just about every art history volume from the British Council library in Nairobi. "I checked out the same books over and over just to stare at the art, to try and understand how it was created," says James. With family encouragement to study engineering, James moved to the U.S. and immersed himself in science studies at Boston University.
I pitch myself as "The Artist at the End of the World". I'm an expert in dry mediums, especially graphite drawing, but with experience in charcoal, chalks, pastels, and have some experience with inks and paints as well. I'm also a photographer, wherein I've been developing a collection of post-apocalyptic-themed stylized photos, combining urbex style locations, volunteer models, costumes, and props. I have also been known to write and perform spoken word poetry at various locations and open mic nights.
Education
1983 BA Fine Art, minor in Philosophy, cum laude, Frostburg State University
Additional coursework:
Towson University
The Maryland Institute College of Art
University of California Santa Barbara
Solo Exhibitions
2019 Clouds’ Uncertain Future, Carspecken Gallery, Wilmington, DE
2019 Recent Work, Gibson Island Club, Gibson Island, MD
2015 Lacunary Series, Carspecken Gallery, Wilmington, DE
2012 Sky, Sea, Land, David Simpson Gallery, Hunt Valley, MD
2010 Island Days, Gibson Island Club, Gibson Island, MD