Khara Woods is a multidisciplinary artist and graphic designer who lives and works in Memphis, TN. Her studio practice includes abstract geometric paintings, wood assemblage and public art, including murals and community engagement projects. Her work has been exhibited recently at Hillard Museum at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, LA, Beverly + Sam Ross Gallery at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN and Crosstown Arts in Memphis, TN. She has designed and installed murals and public art projects for various organizations since 2015, including the Memphis Public Library’s Cornelia Crenshaw branch (2017) and the City of Memphis’ Office of Comprehensive Planning (2023). She was commissioned by Mural Arts Philadelphia in 2019 to design a large-scale data-visualization mural for the Uptown Memphis neighborhood as a part of their Arts & Environment Initiative. Woods was awarded the New Public Artists Fellowship in 2021 by UrbanArt Commission. In 2023, she is working on a number of asphalt art designs for several institutions including the Memphis Medical District Collaborative, Smart Growth America and the City of Memphis’ Office of Comprehensive Planning.
Artist Statement
My artwork is motivated by my love for architecture and deeply rooted in preserving and continuing a cherished family tradition of making. Within my studio practice I create abstract geometric paintings, small sculpture studies and experiment with digital woodworking methods. I often use devices like alternating lines and repetition to express rhythm and movement. Grids undergird much of what I create—they give my work a sense of order and modularity. I use grids across the disciplines I practice. I enjoy exploiting contrasts in my work: neutral and colorful, off and on, symmetry and asymmetry, animated and subdued. I am looking for ways to find a deeper connection to my past to honor the legacy of craftspeople in my family and abstract the many influences of the built environment.
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