IMMERSIVE ARTIST
Valeria Ann Watson, an African American artist and humanitarian born in 1948, has been creating art for over 60 years.
This treasure trove of art is now available for sale. With a ‘selfie’ focus similar to the self portraits of Frida Kahlo, Watson centers her face as the icon of her priesthood and spiritual ordination.
She paints herself through the changing lens of women’s freedom, gender equality and bodily autonomy. The immersive side of her art wraps her self portraits into painterly collages and sculptural assemblages constructed from recycled materials, fabrics, plastics and furniture.
Her foundational work presented here includes charcoal sketches and life drawings from the 1990’s, as well as paintings and collages from the 1980’s to the present.
Timeline
The 1st Miss Black Denver
Watson’s work reflects a lifetime of experiences…from being the first Miss Black Denver in 1969, to undergraduate work at the College of Emporia in Kansas to earning a M.A. at Columbia University. Her graduate school years were full of the wonder of being in New York City.
Valeria was named the 1st Best Tattooed Woman
From Broadway costume houses to CBGB’s to the Hells Angels clubhouse, all became grist for the mill. “After my pattern making job at Barbara Matera’s, I would come home to a couch full of Hell’s Angels waiting for tattoos. It helped pay the bills.” Valeria was named the best tattooed woman at the first World Convention of Tattoo Artists and Fans in 1975.
From Tailor to Priestess of Osun Osogbo
In Hollywood, she worked as a tailor during the filming of Posse and Buffalo Soldiers; working closely with stars like Danny Glover and Melvin and Mario van Peebles. In the year 2000, Watson was initiated by Baba Ifa Karade as a priestess of Osun, and in the same year was ordained as a minister. In 2006, she traveled to Osogbo, Nigeria to be initiated as Priestess of Osun Osogbo in the Traditional African religion of Ifa.
Immersive Affrilachian
Valeria lives with her partner on 7 wooded acres near Asheville, North Carolina. Before the pandemic, her studios were located in the River Arts District, which was recently ravaged by Hurricane Helene; and South Slope, a gentrifying section of Asheville. She has been exhibiting in Appalachia and calling herself an Affrilacian since moving there over 20 years ago.
"I needed a space that was wild and ragged, in a forest hidden from conformity…it is my Harlem Renaissance…drawing and painting and trash sculpture…a free open space for play and masquerade."
There are artists that recognize their uniqueness from the moment of birth. When life gets in the way we bob and weave to the rhythm of freedom. The study of Liberal Arts taught me what it meant to be a contemporary artist and formed my “raison d’etre”.
Frida Kahlo modeled a self-centered focus for my art and Romare Bearden made collage his star project. My other influences include El Anatsui, Zandra Rhodes, Charlotte “JoKo” Beck, Toni Packer, Patton Campbell, Nina Simone, Nelson Mandela and the Columbia University Costume Department.
A French flavor has woven itself through my work since high school in Denver, Colorado. What I layer into my art is partly the rich history of southern France, the Saracens, the Moors and Mary Magdalene’s ministry on top of my fascination with Pirates, Vikings and Yoruba culture. These flavors emerge and splay my subconscious all across my colorful canvases.
My grandmothers taught me skills like sewing, knitting, quilting, ironing, cleaning and tailoring. I am pouring my ancestors into a mold shaped by my pals, Picasso, Chagal, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Nina Simone, Josephine Baker, Jacques Brel and Edith Piaf. As Coach Walz says, “Leave the yearbook open.” You never know what you’re gonna get unless you try.
I am grateful for my parents Helen and Vernell Watson and the generations that preceded me. My family has owned land since the end of chattel slavery, in Pelham, Texas where my ancestor, John Carruthers, taught reading and accounting in the black community. We have a family museum there to this day.
It is my wish to share my vision for our land and the mark on American history I make with my art for my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I look forward to seeing the goal and gold, like Snoop Dogg says, “I thank my mf’n self” for perseverance and belief in my vision. I am this which I made myself into. The true focus of a life of art for me is the sheer bliss of the surprise unfolding. I thank all who supported me through the rough times and welcome you all to the celebration.
Welcome to my Atelier!
