Wesley Chavis

Wesley Chavis is a Visiting Assistant Professor in Painting & Drawing at Tulane University's Newcomb Art Department (School of Liberal Arts). His interdisciplinary practice spans performance, painting, sculpture, and installation, focusing on themes of Black identity, familial heritage, and bodily presence. He holds an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University and a BA from Yale University, with additional training at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture.

Education highlights include:

• 2017: MFA in Painting & Printmaking, Virginia Commonwealth University
• 2014: BA in Art (Distinction), Yale University
• 2017: Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture

Research interests emphasize corporeal expression through multimedia, exploring intersections of race, queerness, and communal memory. Key exhibitions include Wexner Center, NXTHVN, and Socrates Sculpture Park, alongside performances at venues like The Gibney (NYC) and Contemporary Art Center New Orleans. His work has been reviewed in Art in America and The New Yorker.

Awards include residencies at New Orleans SRCC, Skowhegan, and Mildred's Lane. His performances often integrate sound design and ritualistic elements, as seen in works like Ku In Tuo Muah (2017) and Muah (2017).

Teaching focuses on foundational courses in drawing and painting, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. Current projects investigate 'the future body' through material experimentation and queer spatial practices.