Brittany M. Watkins (b.1989, Carrollton, GA) is an interdisciplinary artist, gallery director, and educator currently based in Columbia, SC. Named a 2024 S.C. Arts Commission State fellowship recipient for her large-scale installation works, Watkins holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art from the University of West Georgia (2012) and a Master’s Degree in studio art from Florida State University (FSU) 2016. While in graduate school at FSU, she became increasingly concerned with the dissemination and support of art in the South. This realization encouraged her to establish and facilitate artist-run spaces and pop-up exhibitions throughout Tallahassee, where she later (went on) served as the president and exhibition coordinator at 621 Gallery for the 2018 and 2019 exhibition seasons before relocating to Columbia, South Carolina. In August of 2023, she was named the Director of the Goodall Gallery at Columbia College (GGCC) where she is working to elevate the gallery’s position as a site for artistic dialogue for all. Within her artistic practice, contemporary society is examined through varying levels of psychoanalysis and social critique, which has influenced her role as a gallerist, curator, and community organizer. Watkins is working toward a solo exhibition at the Greenville Center for Creative Arts (October 2024) in her newly built studio in Columbia South Carolina.
artist statement
As daily life becomes more deeply entrenched with the screen just a fingertip’s length away, the rapidly expanding consumer culture infiltrates our collective consciousness.
My art examines the emotional, physical, and political detritus overflowing in present-day America. I examine the relationship between private, psychological space, and its counterpart: the public, edited, physical world through a lens of psychoanalysis. Domestic space (home) serves as a metaphor for the mind and gateway into the psychological; here, my process begins with collecting (physical things and information). These discarded objects, no longer functional, represent the individual, connecting widespread socio-economic concerns to personal fluctuations in stability.
These immersive installations emerge on-site, as I arrive equipped with color and the edge of an idea. I learn from each place, situated in time, among its history and present day, inviting viewers to enter the artwork, as if stepping into a painting. This reality, separate from ordinary life and traditional art viewing, highlights the social psyche relating place to the formation of identity.
When encountering my installations, vibrant colors first appear happy and light-hearted; however, upon closer inspection, these broken-down objects have been masked by a painted surface. Emotional tendencies such as insecurity and dependence emerge alongside compulsive object placement, exerting a need for control, like posturing the self for public display. This work acknowledges the facade of the mediated self that is further perpetuated by social media, thus, questioning a narrative that equates wealth and external gratification to happiness. These experiential works focus on the present, imploring viewer investigation and self-inquiry prompting one to consider their relationship to the material world.
c.v.
education
2023 South Carolina State University, Advanced Online Teaching Certificate, Orangeburg, SC**
2016 Florida State University, Masters of Fine Arts, Magna Cum Laude, Tallahassee, FL
2012 The University of West Georgia, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Cum Laude, Carrollton, Georgia
2010 Art France Study Abroad, The University of West Georgia, Advanced Watercolors, France
art awards, residencies, & commissions
2023 South Carolina Arts Commission FY24 State Fellowship, $10,000 Columbia, SC***
2022 701 CCA Prize Finalist, three artists under 40 from SC, Columbia, SC*
2022 South Arts State Fellowship, South Carolina, $5000, Atlanta, GA***
2022 Public Art Commission, Olympia Mill District Art Trail, Columbia, SC**
2022 SC Arts Commission, Individual Artist Project Support Grant, Columbia, SC**
2020 Long Road Projects + Erie Arts & Culture, Independent Residency, Erie, PA
2020 Joan Mitchell Foundation, Painters & Sculptors Grant Nominee*
2019 Finalist for Foundwork Inaugural Artist Prize, Top 50, New York City, NY*
2019 Hambidge Center for The Creative Arts & Sciences, Rabun Gap, GA
2018 Psychic Jacuzzi Virtual Residency, Week-long Featured Artist, @psychicjacuzzi
2018 Six-week residency & solo show, 701 Center for Contemporary Art, Columbia, SC
2018 Vermont Studio Center, one-month sculpture residency, Johnson, VT
2018 Merit Grant & Work Exchange Award, Vermont Studio Centers
2018 ArtFields Public Art Commission, TRAX Visual Art Center, Lake City, SC
2017 ArtFields Juried Panel Prize, <Accept [(Self) + Elsewhere], Lake City SC
2016 International Sculpture Competition, Student Nominee
2016 Jim Boone Endowment for The Arts, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL**
2016 Resident artist, Soup Experimental, January-March, Tallahassee, FL
2015 Sculpture Area Award, Departmental Scholarship, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
solo exhibitions & installations
2025 Gadsden Museum of Art, Solo Exhibition, Gadsden, AL***
2024 South Carolina State University, Solo Exhibition, Orangeburg, SC**
2024 Greenville Center for the Arts, Solo Exhibition, Greenville, SC***
2023 Hilliard Museum of Art, Southern Prize & State Fellowship Exhibition, LaFayette, LA
2022 The Bo Bartlett Center, South Arts Southern Prize & State Fellows Exhibition, Columbus, GA
2022 Westobou Gallery, Curated by Allison Westerfield, Augusta, GA
2022 Good News Arts Gallery, Solo Exhibition, High Creek FL
2021 Laundromat Art Space, curated by Allison Westerfield, Miami, FL
2020 Long Roads Projects + Erie Arts & Culture, Solo Installation, Erie, PA
2019 MINT Gallery, Curated by Jessica Helfrecht, Atlanta, GA**
2019 Park Ave. Studio, GUT/CUT, with Kelly Boehmer, Savannah, GA
2018 701 Center for Contemporary Art, Brittany M. Watkins, AFFECT-ED, BEING, Columbia, SC***
2018 621 Gallery, & Co. Duo Exhibit with Tenee Hart, Tallahassee, FL,
2018 ArtFields 2018: Featured Artist, Public Art Commission, Lake City Creative Alliance, Lake City, SC
2018 M.Chapel Projects, Something to Have, Sarasota, FL
2017 Pólar Festival, [ S O U R C E ] site 2, Stöðvarfjörður Iceland
2017 Tallahassee Glassworks, Object Relations with Gisela Fernandez, Tallahassee, FL
2017 <Accept [(Self) + Elsewhere, 2017 ArtFields Competition, Lake City, SC
2016 Museum of Fine Arts, FSU, MFA Graduating Artist, [The-Space-Between], Tallahassee, FL
2016 SOUP experimental, Lucia; Not-Self, Main Gallery, Tallahassee, FL
2014 Working Method Contemporary, Intimate Spaces, Looking Into; HER, Tallahassee, FL
2013 Kibbee Gallery, Juried Alumni & Faculty Show, Untitled, Atlanta, GA
2012 Bobick Gallery, An Internal Existence, The University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA
selected group & two-three person exhibitions
2023 701 CCA, Southern Prize & State Fellowship Exhibition, Columbia, SC
2023 City Hall Gallery, Women Empowering Fiber Traditions, Curated by Tenee Hart, Tallahassee, FL**
2023 University Galleries, Curated by Veronique Cote, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL**
2023 Gately Gallery, South Arts State Fellows Exhibition, Florence, SC**
2022 Bo Bartlett Center, South Arts Southern Prize & State Fellowship Exhibit, Columbus, GA
2022 Art Fair Philippines, Mono8 Gallery, Makati City, Philippines (March)
2022 Art in the Park, Mono8 Gallery, Makati City, Philippines (April)
2022 Xavier Art Fair, Mono8 Gallery, San Juan City, Philippines (October)
2022 Visayas Art Fair, Mono8 Gallery, Cebu City, Philippines (November)
2021 Art Fair Philippines, Mono8 Gallery, (Curated by Kelli Maeshiro), Manilla, Philippines
2022 Mono8 Gallery, Three-person show, Curated by Kelli Maeshiro, March, Manila, Philippines
2021 Art Fair Philippines, Curated by Kelli Maeshiro, April 2021, Manila, Philippines
2021 Mono8 Gallery, Three-Person Exhibition, August 2021**, Manila, Philippines
2020 Looking Forward to Tomorrow, Good News Arts Gallery, Rock Hill, FL
2020 The Shape of Things, 701 CCA, Curated by Wim Roeffs, Columbia, SC
2019 Future Present 19, Mono8 Gallery, Manila, Philippines
2019 UWG Biennale, The University of West Georgia, Bobick Gallery, Carrollton, GA
2019 Vista Arts, Pop-Up Exhibition with Nick Boismenu, Columbia, SC
2019 Annual Faculty Show, FSU Museum of Fine Arts, Tallahassee, FL, January
2018 Museum of Fine Arts, Faculty Show, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
2017 Nasty Women Exhibition, Knockdown Center, I am Name Brand; A Role, Brooklyn, NY
2016 Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, Phyllis Strauss Gallery,"I am Name Brand; A Role,” Tallahassee, FL
2015 Art for Dinner, 621 Gallery, Performance, Tallahassee, Florida
2015 Aqua Art Miami, International Contemporary Art Fair, Miami, FL
2015 Thomas Dean Gallery, Concrete Acquaintance, Atlanta, GA
2015 Rape Culture, Mattress #1, Working Method Contemporary, Tallahassee, FL
2015 More Than A Body, I am Name Brand; A Role, Oglesby Union Gallery, Tallahassee, FL
2015 Mid-Point, Working Method Contemporary, Tallahassee, FL
2014 Tallahassee Mural Project, (with Elise Thompson) The Plant, Tallahassee, FL
2014 621 Annex, Live performance (in collaboration with Huisi He), Tallahassee, FL
2014 Art For Dinner, Live Performance, 621 Gallery, Tallahassee, FL
2014 Untitled, SMALLS outdoor project space, Tallahassee, FL
2013 In The Making, Working Method Contemporary, Tallahassee, FL
2013 All Florida Ceramics Invitational, South Gallery at Florida State College, Jacksonville, FL
2013 The Dean’s Advisory Board Show, Working Method Contemporary, Tallahassee, FL
2012 Student Juried Exhibition, Bobick Gallery, The University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA
2011 Student Juried Exhibition, Bobick Gallery, The University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA
2011 25th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Douglasville Arts Center, Douglasville, GA
2011 6th Annual Juried Exhibition Open House, Atlanta Printmakers Studio, Atlanta, Georgia
2010 Student Juried Exhibition, Bobick Gallery, The University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA
2006 Student Juried Exhibition, Carrollton Cultural Art Center, Carrollton, GA
1995 Student Juried Exhibition, 2nd Place Prize, Carrollton Cultural Art Center, Carrollton, GA
teaching experience
2024 Greenville Center for the Arts, Artist Workshop, Greenville, SC, TBA*
2024 Adjunct Professor, U of SC, Interdisciplinary Relationships in the Arts, Columbia, SC
2023 Adjunct Professor, Columbia College, Art Appreciation & Special Topics, Columbia, SC
2023 Adjunct Professor, South Carolina State University, Art Appreciation, Orangeburg, SC
2023 Adjunct Professor, U of SC, Interdisciplinary Relationships in the Arts, Columbia, SC
2023 Guest Lecturer, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, TBA
2023 Guest Lecturer, South Carolina State University, For Professor LeDee & O’Hara, Columbia, SC
2021 Guest Lecturer, BFA Advancement, Website Building for Artists, Tallahassee, FL
2021 Guest Lecturer, Special Topics, Art+ Emotions, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ**
2019 Adjunct Professor, FSU, Contemporary Art & Design, Fall & Spring, Tallahassee, FL
2018 Guest Lecturer, Sarasota New Media College, Installation Preparation, Sarasota, FL
2017 Adjunct Professor, FSU, Contemporary Art & Design, Spring, Tallahassee, FL
2017 Adjunct Professor, FSU, Digital Foundations (two sections), Fall, Tallahassee, FL
2016 Teaching Assistant, Performance with Clay, Spring, Tallahassee, FL
2016 Instructor, FSU, Media Workshop, Digital + Ceramics, Fall, Tallahassee, FL
2015 Instructor, FSU, Intro to Ceramics (hand-building), Tallahassee, FL
2014 Instructor, FSU, Intro to Ceramics (hand-building), Spring, Tallahassee, FL
2014 Teaching Assistant, Intro to Ceramics (hand-building), Fall, Tallahassee, FL
curatorial / juried exhibition highlights
2024 Goodall & Loft Galleries, Year-Round Exhibition Schedule, Columbia, SC
2024 Exhibition Juror, Student Exhibition, The University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA***
2023 Goodall & Loft Galleries, September-October, Columbia College, Columbia, SC
2019 The University of West Georgia, Remote Dialogue (FSU Work), Carrollton, GA***
2019 621 Gallery (Main Gallery), Steven Benson, highway (re)Construction, Tallahassee, FL
2019 621 Gallery (Nan Boynton Gallery), Ananda Balingit-LeFils & Janae Easton, Tallahassee, FL
2019 621 Gallery (Main Gallery), Elysia Mann, Year Yellow, Tallahassee, FL
2019 621 Annex, UWG Student Exhibit, Remote Dialogue, Tallahassee, FL***
2019 621 Gallery (Main Gallery), Kathryn Shriver, Glamor & Mimicry, Tallahassee, FL
2019 621 Annex, Alex Ingle, Identity Informed then Performed, Tallahassee, FL**
2019 621 Gallery (Main Gallery), Allyson Comstock, Macro, Micro. & In-Between, Tallahassee, FL
2019 621 Gallery (Nan Boynton Gallery), Meg Pierce, Sanctuary, Tallahassee, FL
2019 621 Gallery (Main Gallery), Joe Roache, Tallahassee, FL
2019 621 Gallery (Main Gallery), Ry McCullough, DELICATESSEN, Tallahassee, FL
2019 621 Gallery (Main Gallery), Art for Dinner, Tallahassee, FL**
2019 621 Gallery (Nan Boynton Gallery), John Chang, Untitled, Tallahassee, FL
2018 621 Gallery (Main Gallery & Annex), Art+ Tech Fest, Tallahassee, FL**
2018 621 Gallery (Main Gallery & Annex), Art for All, Tallahassee, FL
2018 621 Gallery (Main Gallery), Samantha Burns, The Self That Remains, Tallahassee, FL**
2018 621 Gallery (Main Gallery), Dana Robinson, Gold Tin, Tallahassee, FL
2018 621 Gallery (Main Gallery), Sarah Marshall, Untrustworthy Night, Tallahassee, FL
2018 621 Gallery (Main & Nan Boynton Gallery), Casey McGuire, Tallahassee, FL**
2018 621 Gallery (Main & Nan Boynton Gallery ), Glenn Downing, Tallahassee, FL
2017 the sh/ED/, April Cluess, Tallahassee, FL***
2017 the sh/ED/, Colleen Itani, Picnic for___, Tallahassee, FL***
2016 SOUP Experimental, Background Noise, Jillian Marie Browning, Tallahassee, FL***
artistic leadership experience
2023 Goodall Gallery Director, Columbia College, Columbia, SC-to present***
2020 Laundromat Art Space, Artist Facilitator with curator Allison Westerfield, Miami, FL
2019 621 Gallery, Exhibitions Committee Member, 2019-20 exhibition season, Tallahassee, FL
2019 621 Annex, REMOTE DIALOGUE, organizer, juror, curator, Carrollton, GA & Tallahassee, FL
2018 621 Gallery President & Exhibitions Coordinator, Tallahassee, FL
2018 621 Gallery, Exhibitions Committee member & juror, Tallahassee, FL
2017 621 Gallery, Member of the Board of Directors, Tallahassee, FL
2017 Florida State University, Bachelor of Fine Arts Studio Manager, Tallahassee, FL
2017 Founder & Organizer of the SH/ed/, experimental exhibition space, Tallahassee, FL
2016 Curation of Solo Exhibition by Jillian Marie Browning at SOUP experimental
2016 Social Media Director, SOUP experimental, Tallahassee, FL
2015 Co-Director, SOUP experimental, Tallahassee, FL
notable collections
2023 Lindsey Kirby, Local Business Owner, Columbia, SC
2022 Brian Fischer, Local Business Owner, Columbia, SC
2021 Wim Roefs, Late Owner/Director of ifART Gallery, curator, Columbia, SC
2021 Long Road Projects, Special Edition, Jacksonville, FL
2018 Preston McClane, Past Curator of MOFA FSU, Tallahassee, FL
2017 Artfields Collective, site-specific installation, Lake City, SC
2017 Jill McClenon, Director of Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Brooklyn, NY
2010 The University of West Georgia, Department of Art, Carrollton, GA
press & publications
2024 The West Georgian, UWG…Features Alumni…, Jeff Igbokwe, https://thewestgeorgian.com/?s=uwg+features+alumni+to+
2023 SouthXeast Contemporary Southeast Art Exhibit catalog, Florida Atlantic University
2023 701 CCA Prize Finalist Catalog, TBA
2022 South Arts Southern Prize & State Fellowship Catalog, 2022 State Fellows
2022 The Local Columbus, South Arts Fellowship at Bo Bartlett Center, Article TBA,
The Local magazine (thelocalcolumbus.com)
2022 71 Bait, September 6 Issue
The Mill District Public Art Trail showcases the history of Granby Mills - 71Bait - 71 Bait
2022 The Daily Gamecock, September Article, Columbia, SC
2022 Burnaway, Close Look 119, https://burnaway.org/daily/ctrl-alt-self-westobou/ July
2021 UNAFRAID Magazine, Artist feature, https://unafraid.net/visual-diary.html, December
2021 Yale University Radio, Artist Interview with Brainard Carey, museumofnonvisibleart.com, June
2019 Foundwork Featured Artist, Curated by Aaron Levi Garvey, December
2019 CREATE International Art Magazine, Issue 13, Curated by Margaret Winslow, January
2018 Free Times: Art Review, Installation Invites Visitors to Explore the Psyche; Inner Reality
2018 Free Times: 8 Days a Week, Brittany M. Watkins, Columbia Craft Ocktoberfest…, Sep. 26
2018 Playlist: Features, Volume 3, Issue 4, Unrivaled Displays, Lindsay S. Buchanan, Pages 4-5
2018 Artfields 2017 Catalog, 2017 Winners + 2017 Accepted Artist, Page 284
2017 Florida State University College of Fine Art News, Art Alumna Brittany Watkins
2017 The Times Georgian, Local Artist Wins ArtFields Competition, May 17, 2017, A11
2016 Goliath Magazine, Minneapolis, MN
2012 The West Georgian, “…Watkins Molds her Future,” Emily Deaver, Volume 64-Issue 11