EDUCATION
Cass Technical High School, Art, Detroit, Michigan, 1968
B.F.A. in Printmaking, University of Michigan, 1975 cum laude
Krishna Reddy Atelier, New York University, 1982
Robert Blackburn’s Printmaking Workshop, 1979-1983
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, 1988
M.F.A. in Sculpture, Brooklyn College, 1996
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ONE MAN SHOWS
Michael Kelly Williams: A Retrospective, Five Myles Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, 2022
Impressions: My Life in Ink, EFA Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop 20|20 Gallery, New York, New York, 2018
Muse to Muse, The Carr Center, Detroit, Michigan, 2017
Found and Funky, Materials for the Arts Gallery, Long Island City, New York, 2016
Artwork by Michael Kelly Williams, Lincoln Medical Center Exhibition Hall, Bronx, New York, 2016
Works on Paper, chashama 461 Gallery, New York, New York, 2015
A Look Back, Canvas Paper and Stone Gallery, New York, New York, 2011
Live from New York, Arts Extended Gallery, Detroit, Michigan, 2010
Works on Paper: a Retrospective, York College Gallery, Jamaica, New York, 2005
Homecoming, Arts Extended Gallery, Detroit, Michigan, 2003
Retrospective, John Jay College Art Gallery, New York, New York, 1997
That Second Set, Jamaica Art Center, New York, New York, 1994
New Works, Arts Extended Gallery, Detroit, Michigan, 1992
New Works, June Kelly Gallery, New York, New York, 1991
Celebration, Scarab Club, Detroit, Michigan, 1991
Myth and Music, June Kelly Gallery, New York, New York, 1988
Michael Kelly Williams Monoprints, Cinque Gallery, New York, New York, 1987
Monoprints and Sculpture, DeLawrence Maine Gallery, New York, New York, 1986
Solo Show, Arts Extended Gallery, Detroit, Michigan, 1986
Sculpture and Prints, John Jay College, New York, New York, 1986
Solo Show, Detroit, Michigan, Front Room Gallery, 1985
Michael Kelly Williams, Bronx Museum Satellite Gallery, New York, New York, 1985
Michael Kelly Williams, Paul Robeson Gallery, Detroit, Michigan, 1978
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SELECTED GROUP SHOWS
What We Leave Behind, Wave Hill Glyndor Gallery, Bronx, New York, 2022
Detroit Expats Homecoming, Detroit Artists Market, Detroit, Michigan, 2022
Materia/Material Exhibition, Governors Island, New York, New York, 2022
Robert Blackburn & Modern American Printmaking, Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), various cities, 2020 to 2022
The Sustainable Art Show, COPE NYC Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, 2022
Sound Vision: Harmonious Relationships in Art and Music, Lehman College Art Gallery (online), Bronx, New York, 2021
eMeLe-K: Social Reckoning, Abrazo Interno Gallery at The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center, New York, New York, 2020-2021
New Directions 2020, Barrett Art Center, Poughkeepsie, New York, 2020
I Am My Best Work, The Painting Center, New York, New York, 2020
Woodcuts: Groove and Grain, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2020
2020 Gilda Snowden Memorial Exhibition, Scarab Club, Detroit, Michigan, 2020
Harlem Postcards: Winter 2020, Studio Museum 127, New York, New York, 2020
Winter Workspace 10 Year Anniversary: Returning to the Source, Wave Hill Glyndor Gallery, Bronx, New York, 2020
Detroit Collects: Selections of African American Art from Private Collections, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Michigan, 2019-2020
Persistence, Vision, and Passion = Longevity, Conduit Gallery, Dallas, Texas, 2019
Empathy, Smack Mellon, New York, New York, 2018
Sedimentations: Assemblage as Social Repair, The 8th Floor, New York, New York, 2018
Restoring Pride in Culture: Legacy & Tradition, Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster, Kingston, New York, 2018
Say It Loud: Art, History, Rebellion, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit, Michigan, 2017
The Detroit Diaspora, The Carr Center, Detroit, Michigan, 2017
Uptown, Wallach Art Gallery, Lenfest Center for the Arts, New York, New York, 2017
Institutional Memory: 35mm Slides from the Met’s Collection Reimagined, Materials for the Arts Gallery, Long Island City, New York, 2017
Winter Workspace Session 2 Open House, Wave Hill Glyndor Gallery, Bronx, New York, 2017
Seed for History and Form – Tebhaga, Aicon Gallery, New York, New York, 2017
Bombay Black, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, India, 2017
Legacy of Leadership, Arts Horizons LeRoy Neiman Art Center, New York, New York, 2016
Dreamers, Harlem Properties, New York, New York, 2016
Collect: The Power of Knowing, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit, Michigan, 2015–2016
Definitive 461: chashama Final Exhibition, New York, New York, 2015
Twofold: Artist-Teacher, Teacher-Artist, The Gallery at Industry City, Dedalus Foundation, Brooklyn, New York, 2015
art of the 5: we’ll take manhattan, The Galleries at The Interchurch Center, New York, New York, 2015
Reflections of Monk: Inspired Images of Music and Moods II, Dwyer Cultural Center, New York, New York, 2014
Hand-Pull: the Art of Printmaking, Arts Horizons LeRoy Neiman Art Center, New York, New York, 2013-2014
Curate NYC, Gallery @ 139 Bay, Staten Island, New York, 2013
Lasting Impressions of Robert Blackburn’s Printmaking Workshop, Arts Extended Gallery, Detroit, Michigan, 2013
Small Wonders, Arts Extended Gallery, Detroit, Michigan, 2013
Reflections of Monk: Inspired Images of Music and Moods, Wilmer Jennings Gallery at Kenkeleba, New York, New York, 2012
Prints of the Masters, Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn, New York, 2011
The Sound of Blackness, The Dorsey Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, 2011
Crossing the Line: African American Artists in the Jacqueline Bradley and Clarence Otis, Jr. Collection, Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida, 2007
Tuttavia Povero!, The Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts, Asbury Park, New Jersey, 2007
20th-Century African American Art from the George and Joyce Wein Collection: Syncopated Rhythms, Boston University Art Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts, 2005-2006
Along the Way: MTA Arts for Transit, UBS Art Gallery, New York, New York, 2005
Fifty Years of Robert Blackburn’s Printmaking Workshop: Creative Space, The Great Hall, Thomas Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., 2003
Masters of the Quilt, American Vision 145, New York, New York, 2001
Black New York Artist of the 20th Century, Selections from the Schomburg Center Collections, New York, New York, 1998-1999
Till Spring Thaw, Aquamarine Sculpture Garden, New York, New York, 1996-1997
25 years of African-American Art organized by The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, New York, 1994-1997
Exhibition Tour Itinerary: The Lowe Art Gallery, University of Miami, Florida
To: The Wood Street Galleries, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, among others.
Forms with an Attitude, One Night Stand Gallery and 450 Broadway Gallery, New York, New York, 1996
Art en Route, Paine Webber Art Gallery, New York, New York, 1995
Crossroads: Dedicated to the Memory of Nadine DeLawrence, Kingsborough Community College, Brooklyn, New York, 1993
Family Ties, show included father, Kelly Williams, Krasdale Foods Gallery, Bronx, New York, 1993
Public Art in the Bronx, Lehman College Art Gallery, Bronx, New York, 1993
Poetic Utility, Jamaica Art Center, Jamaica, New York, 1992
Recent Acquisitions, The Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Michigan, 1992
Walter O. Evans Collection of African American Art, Beach Institute, King-Tisdell Museum, Savannah, Georgia, 1991
Recent Acquisitions, The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, New York, 1991
Figurative Art, 843 Studio Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, 1990
Made in the Bronx, The City Gallery of New York, New York, New York, 1989
63rd International Competition, The Print Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1988
Michael Kelly Williams and Colin Chase, The Interchurch Center, New York, New York, 1988
Inspirations, Gallery M, New York, New York, 1987
Works on Paper, June Kelly Gallery, New York, New York, 1987
Share the Memories, The Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Michigan, 1987
Celebration, AT&T Corporate Education Center, Hopewell, New Jersey, 1987
The Art of Black America in Japan, Tokyo and Chiba, Japan, 1987
Two Person Show with Theresa Ramey, Harris Brown Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts, 1986
New Impressions, P.S. 39 Gallery, Bronx, New York, 1986
Images of Jazz, The Harley School, Rochester, New York, 1985
Tribute-Robert Blackburn, A.C.B.A.W, Mount Vernon, New York, 1985
Art Works in City Spaces, The Tweed Court House, New York, New York, 1985
Affirmations of Life, Kenkeleba House, New York, New York, 1984
African World Festival, Hart Plaza, Detroit, Michigan, 1984
Juss Jazz, Kenkeleba House, New York, New York, 1983
International Print Exhibition, Roi Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan, People’s Republic of China, 1983
Creativite et Developpement, Moussem Culturel D’ Asilah, Museum of Contemporary Art, Asilah, Morocco, 1983
PRINTS USA 1982, Pratt Manhattan Center Gallery, New York, New York, 1982
Printmakers, Jazzonia Gallery, Detroit, Michigan, 1982
2nd annual Atlanta Life National Competition, Atlanta, Georgia, 1981
Summer Festival, Spectrum Gallery, New Rochelle, New York, 1981
Ma Sais, Salon d’ Afrique, New York, New York, 1980
Black American and Third World Artist, Yolissa House, New York, New York, 1980
Pittsburgh Print Group 79, The Arts and Crafts Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1979
Group Exhibition N.C.A., Your Heritage House, Detroit, Michigan, 1979
Kwanza, Detroit N.C.A., African American Museum, Detroit, Michigan, 1978
Anything on Paper, Detroit Focus Gallery, Detroit, Michigan, 1978
Moyo Royo, Trotter House Gallery, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1977
Society of Illustrators 18, Gallery of the Society of Illustrators, New York, New York, 1976
Invitational Art Exhibit, Afro American Cultural Center, Cleveland, Ohio, 1975
Kumba na Ujima, Trotter House Gallery, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1975
Group Show, Michigan Union Gallery, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1973
Art-Jazz, The Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Michigan, 1971
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PUBLIC ART and COMMISSIONS
Sculpture, Liturgy for Lenox Lounge, May 2016 to March 2017
Commissioned by NYC Department of Transportation, Marcus Garvey Park Alliance,
and FLUX Art Fair
Formerly located at Lenox Avenue meridian at 124th Street, New York, New York
Two Permanent Glass Mosaic Murals and 8 Permanent Glass Mosaic Panels, Reach For A Star, 1995
Commissioned by The City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs, The New York City School Construction Authority, and The New York City Board of Education
Located at P.S. 82 Hammond, 88-02 144th Street, Queens, New York
Two Permanent Glass Mosaic Murals, The EL, 1991
Commissioned by the New York Metropolitan Authority – Arts for Transit
Located at the Intervale Subway Station, 2 and 5 lines, Bronx, New York
Bronze Reliefs, 1983
Commissioned by The Bronx Museum of the Arts to design “The Bronx Recognition Awards”
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ART DIRECTION, FILM
Daughters of the Dust
PBS-American Playhouse Production, directed by Julie Dash
Screen debut 1991; television debut 1992
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AWARDS and RESIDENCIES
National Academy of Design and Materials for the Arts Materia/Material Residency, Governors Island, New York, New York, 2022
NYFA’s Keep NYS Creating Project Grant, 2021
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant, 2018-2019
Artist-in-Residence, The EFA Blackburn Legacy Publication Fellowship, Elizabeth Foundation, New York, New York, 2017
Winter Workspace Artist, Wave Hill, Bronx, New York, 2017
Artist-in-Residence, Materials for the Arts, Long Island City, New York, 2016-2017
West Harlem Development Corporation Grant, New York, New York, 2015
Artist Equity Grant and the Printmaking Workshop, Invited to attend the Fifth International Biennale held in Cairo, Egypt, December 9-18, 1994
Skowhegan Fellowship, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Maine, 1988
The Ann and Donald W. McPhail Philadelphia Museum Purchase Award, 1987
Artist-in-Residence, The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, 1986-1987
The Print Club Selection Award, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1987
Artist-in-Residence, The New York State Council on the Arts, 1984
Jerome Foundation Grant, The Printmaking Workshop, 1984
Asilah Fellowship and Residency, Asilah, Morocco, Invited to the International Symposium of Artists, Writers and Filmmakers, Moussem Culturel d’Asilah, Palace of Raissouni, July and August, 1983
Etruscan Foundation Grant and Residency, Wayne State University and The Etruscan Foundation, Santa Lucia di Rosia, Siena, Italy, 1972
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SELECTED WORKSHOPS, ARTIST TALKS, and PANEL PRESENTATIONS
August 20, 2022
National Academy of Design and Materials for the Arts Materia/Material
Collagraph Workshop (utilizing recycled materials)
Governors Island, New York, New York
February 18, 2021
Inside Art: Michael Kelly Williams
Brooklyn Public Library (via Zoom), Brooklyn, New York
August 29, 2020
Canvas Kids Art Program: Saturday Art Tour
Neighborhood United (via Zoom), Bronx, New York
July 22, 2020
Mint Creative Summer Jobs: Mint Artist Talks
Mint Artists Guild (via Zoom), Detroit, Michigan
August 15, 2019
Artist Talk: Roberto Visani and Michael Kelly Williams
Materials for the Arts, Long Island City, New York
October 30 and December 8, 2018
Charles White Printmaking Workshops
The Museum of Modern Art, New York, New York
July 11, 2018
Material Transformations: Artist Talk with Roberto Visani and Michael Kelly Williams
Shelly & Donald Rubin Foundation – The 8th Floor, New York, New York
March 3, 2018
Impressions: My Life in Ink Artist Talk
EFA Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop 20|20 Gallery, New York, New York
with Herb Jordan and with music by Kelvyn Bell
November 21 and December 10, 2017
Viscosity/Monoprint Workshop
EFA Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, New York, New York
January 19, 2017
MFTA Third Thursday: Printmaking with Michael Kelly Williams
Materials for the Arts, Long Island City, New York
May 18, 2016
Artist Talk
Dreamers and FLUX Art Fair
Harlem Properties, New York, New York
with Jordan Baker-Caldwell, Stan Squirewell, and Moderator – Leanne Stella
October 24, 2015
Found Materials Collagraph Workshop
The Gallery at Industry City, Dedalus Foundation, Brooklyn, New York
October 15, 2015
BX200 Visual Artist Studios
Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, New York
April 11, 18 and 25, 2015
Printmaking Workshops for Adults
The LeRoy Neiman Art Center, New York, New York
February 8, 15 and 22, 2014
Printmaking Workshops for Adults
The LeRoy Neiman Art Center, New York, New York
September 28, 2013
Lecture
Lasting Impressions of Robert Blackburn’s Printmaking Workshop
Arts Extended Gallery, Detroit, Michigan
September 11, 1997
Round Table Discussion
Interdependence: The Emerging Artist, the Museum and Critical Attention
The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, New York
Moderator – Valerie J. Mercer, Vladmir Cybil, Gregory Coates, June Clark, Cynthia Lovett, and Calvin Reed
1994
Artist Teacher
William Sidney Mount: Images of 19th Century American Life
The Stony Brook Museum, Stony Brook, New York
Teacher Training Workshop – a one day hands on printmaking workshop in a number of techniques for teachers
November 6, 1993
Panelist
Bronx Public Art: Artist and the Community
Lehman College Art Gallery, Bronx, New York
Moderator – Prof. Sally Webster, Alice Adams, John Ahearn, Rigoberto Torres, Jackie Ferrara, Luis Jimeneze, Komar and Melamid, Tim Rollins, and Jorge Tacla
March 3, 1988
Seminar
The Fine Art of Print Collecting
Bob Blackburn’s Printmaking Workshop, New York, New York
A workshop for The Studio Museum in Harlem in the making collecting and care of prints
November 10, 1988
Panel Discussion
The Artist and the Institution
The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York
Moderator – William T. Williams, Candida Alvarez, Tyrone Mitchell, and Candice Hill-Montgomery
January 12 through 15, 1988
Mono-Print Workshop, Art Exhibit and Gallery Talk
Bristol Campus Center, Hamilton College, Clinton, New York
April 4 through June 6, 1988
Ten Week Woodcut Workshop
Lower East Side Printshop, Supervisor – Susan Crowe
August 1 through October 3, 1988
Ten Week Engraving Workshop
Lower East Side Printshop, Supervisor – Susan Crowe
October 18, 1987
Speaking about the Work
The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York
Meet the artist in residence
April 14 through 16, 1987
Share the Memories
The Detroit Institute of Arts, Organized by Mr. Charles el Lewis
Collagraph workshops, art exhibit, and slide lecture
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SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Columbia University, New York, New York
Ford Foundation, New York, New York
Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art
The Agnes Gund Collection, New York, New York
The Bronx Museum of the Arts
The Columbia Museum, Columbia, South Carolina
The Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Michigan
The George and Joyce Wein Collection, New York, New York
The Health and Hospitals Corporation, New York, New York
The Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority, New York, New York
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Asilah, Morocco
The New York City Board of Education
The Paul Simon Collection, New York, New York
The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation, New York, New York
The Silver Bow Art, Butte, Montana
The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, New York
The Walter O. Evans Collection, Detroit, Michigan
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SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Reisman, Sara, and Diamond, Anjuli Nanda, eds. The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation: An Incomplete Archive of Activist Art. New York: Hirmer Publishers, 2021.
Sanders, Phil. Prints and Their Makers. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2020.
Mercer, Valerie J. Detroit Collects: Selections of African American Art from Private Collections, exhibition Catalog, November 12, 2019 – March 1, 2020. Detroit, MI: Detroit Institute of Arts, 2019. Print.
Zugazagoitia, Julian. “What’s the Best Work of Art You Saw This Summer? 18 (More) Well-Traveled Experts Weigh In,” Artnet News, August 17, 2017. Retrieved from news.artnet.com.
Farago, Jason. “Columbia’s New Harlem Museum Opens, With Art From Its Neighbors,” The New York Times, June 1, 2017. Retrieved from nytimes.com. June 2, 2017 print, New York edition, Section C, Page 13.
Chong, Cecile. Twofold: Artist-Teacher, Teacher-Artist, exhibition catalogue, October 9 – November 22, 2015. New York: Dedalus Foundation, 2015. Print.
Spencer, Debra Vanderburg. art of the 5: we’ll take manhattan, exhibition catalogue, September 14 – October 30, 2015. New York: The Interchurch Center, 2015. Print.
Gabriel, Larry. “Detroit may be financially bankrupt but culturally it’s thriving,” Metro Times, October 2, 2013. Retrieved from metrotimes.com.
Sirmans, Franklin. Crossing the Line: African American Artists in the Jacqueline Bradley and Clarence Otis, Jr. Collection, exhibition catalogue, January 19 – May 20, 2007. Winter Park, FL: Rollins College, 2007. Print.
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and The New York Public Library. 366 Days of Black History: Migrations – 2008 Engagement Calendar. New York: Pomegranate, 2007. Print.
Hills, Patricia, and Melissa Renn. Syncopated Rhythms: 20th-Century African American Art from the George and Joyce Wein Collection, exhibition catalogue, November 18, 2005 – January 22, 2006. Boston: Boston University Art Gallery, 2005. Print.
Smythe, Victor N. Black New York Artist of the 20th Century. Selections from the Schomburg Center Collections, 1998.
African-American Artist. Detroit: St. James Press; New York: Schomburg Center for Black Culture, 1997.
Zamudio, Raul. Forms with an Attitude, exhibition catalogue. New York: 450 Broadway Gallery and The One Night Stand Gallery, 1996. Print.
Britton, Crystal. African American Art: The Long Struggle. New York: Smithmark Books, 1996.
Murphy, Anthony. “A Portfolio of Promising Futures,” American Visions, August/September 1992.
Woodson, Shirley. Walter O. Evans Collection of African American Art, exhibition catalogue, February 1 – May 3, 1991. Savannah: Beach Institute/King-Tisdell Museum, 1991. Print.
Miro, Marsha. “Commitment Ties Collector,” The Detroit Free Press, February 17, 1991.
Boyd, Valerie. “Daughters of the Dust,” American Visions, February 1991.
Lewis, Samella. “Art of the African World,” The Black Collegian, Nov/Dec 1990.
Lewis, Samella. Art: African American. Los Angeles: Hancraft Studios, 1990.
Rhodes, Lisa. “Myth and Music,” Big Red News, December 24, 1988.
Soho Eye. “Michael Kelly Williams Has a Gift,” Art World, December 21, 1988.
Jacques, Geoffrey. “Williams, A Major Image-Maker,” The City Sun, December 14 – 20, 1988.
Cardone, Phil. “Spotlight: Michael Kelly Williams,” Bronx Arts, January 1988.
Stanislaus, Grace. From the Studio: Artist-in-Residence, 1986-1987 (Show with Colin Chase), catalogue, September 27, 1987 – January 3, 1988, The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, New York.
Langsam, Janet. Art Works in City Spaces, exhibition catalogue, April 25 – May 22, 1985. New York, 1985. Print.
Jones, Frieda. “Juss’ Jass: Correlations of Painting and Afro-American Classical Music,” The Guardian, December 7, 1983.
PRINTS USA 1982, exhibition catalogue, May 28 – June 22, 1982. New York: Pratt Graphics Center, 1982. Print.
Wilkinson, Guerin. “A2 Black Artist Exhibit Mutual Inspiration Society at Trotter House (Exhibit subtitled “Documents of 20th Century Urban Africans Living in North America,” a two person show with Amir Bey),” Michigan Free Press, August 28, 1977.
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VIDEOS
Study With the Best – Black History Month: Through a CUNY Lens, CUNY TV, 23 February 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Lp4IpwENlU&feature=youtu.be
Nadel, Jeremy, Dedalus Foundation Artists Two Fold, 15 November 2015, vimeo.com/145800358