Artist + Curator: Mario Moore and Dexter Wimberly Talk

Historically, African-American artists have been compelled to make their own way within the art world, creating their own systems of merit, criticality and reward outside of the mainstream. Featured in the current Gantt Center exhibition, Painting Is Its Own Country, artist Mario Moore’s work – like many others represented in the show – has been embraced by a broad art audience.

Moore will sit down with the exhibit’s curator, Dexter Wimberly, to talk about his work and that of other exceptional artists who are challenging traditional ideas of cultural representation and creativity. As the exhibition’s title reflects, painting – despite its long existence – still offers limitless space for freedom, diversity and self-expression.

Mario Moore (b. 1987) is a Detroit native, currently residing in New York City. Moore received a BFA in Illustration from the College for Creative Studies (2009) and an MFA in Painting from the Yale School of Art (2013). He has participated as an artist-in-residence at Knox College, Fountainhead, and the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation.

Moore’s work has afforded him many opportunities – from multiple exhibitions and articles featured in the New York Times. He has exhibited at the Detroit Institute of Art, the Charles H. Wright Museum, and George N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art. Moore's solo exhibitions include Winston-Salem State University’s Diggs Gallery, The Urban Institute of Contemporary Art and the David Klein Gallery.

His work is also included in Fired Up! Ready to Go! Finding Beauty, Demanding Equity: An African American Life in Art (2017) and the Studio Museum in Harlem’s catalog, Speaking of People: Ebony, Jet and Contemporary Art (2014).  For the 2018 – 2019 school year, he was awarded a Princeton Hodder Fellowship. During the fellowship, Moore created large portraits and paintings featuring Black men who work in and around the Princeton campus, specifically blue collar workers.

Visit his website at mariomoorestudio.com.

Dexter Wimberly is an independent curator and entrepreneur who has organized exhibitions and developed programs with galleries and institutions throughout the world, including The Third Line in Dubai, Koki Arts in Tokyo and the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City. His exhibitions have been reviewed and featured in publications including the New York Times, Artforum and Hyperallergic.

Wimberly has also served as Director of Strategic Planning at Independent Curators International in New York City. Prior to his curatorial career, Wimberly was the managing partner and CEO of August Bishop advertising agency, representing a diverse array of clients including Adidas, The Coca-Cola Company and HBO. In 2018, Wimberly founded ART WORLD CONFERENCE, a professional development company for visual artists and arts professionals, and serves as its CEO.