MUSA’s international and local explorations have allowed him the exciting opportunity to hone his voice in the art world as an Installation Artist and Sculptor. This artistic journey was bolstered during his undergraduate studies at Hampton University where he majored in Comprehensive Art and was introduced to one of the most impressive collections of African American art at the Hampton University Museum. While at Hampton he studied under internationally acclaimed sculptor, Ampofo Anti.
In the spring of 1994 Musa traveled to Rwanda and Uganda as a US Delegate through an invitation from the 7th Annual Pan African Congress. While in Uganda he visited with a Tutsi family that informed him of the genocide that was occurring simultaneously in Rwanda and Burundi. This trip inspired a life long interest in the artist’s roll in social, economic, and environmental issues and changed his understanding of the power of the visual arts as a tool to bring social and political issues to the forefront.
In 1995, MUSA returned to Brooklyn, to attend graduate school at Pratt Institute and earned an MFA in sculpture. While at Pratt, worked at the Skylight Gallery of Bedford Stuyvesant’s Restoration Corporation. This experience gave MUSA an opportunity to bridge his international experiences with his local community, which allowed him to formulate his style of “Abstract Commentary” while completing his graduate studies. In 2002, he returned to the continent of Africa and visited South Africa and Ghana. During this time he studied with master wood carvers and further researched the techniques and history of African sculpture.
MUSA has taught Art History at the City University of New York’s Medgar Evers College, since 2002, which has given him the unique opportunity to share his global perspectives on art history with hundreds of students. In order to create a greater connection with the youth of Bedford Stuyvesant, MUSA established the Brooklyn Arts Incubator, Inc., a not-for-profit community based organization in 2003. In its seven year history, MUSA has been able to employ dozens of professional artists who organize community based art projects with hundreds of children throughout Bedford Stuyvesant public schools. In 2007, England’s University of Oxford recognized his achievements, and invited him to present a paper on art and humanities competition with science and technology for funding in public schools.
MUSA’s international travels abroad and his curatorial experiences, juxtaposed with his experiences as an art history professor and Executive Director of a not-for-profit organization, have provided an endless source of inspiration for his artistic career, which has allowed him the opportunity to exhibit all over the United States in group and solo exhibitions. It has also given him the opportunity to participate in a number of public art commissions, which is the most exciting aspect of his artistic career. Most recently his performance art has been aired on the Vhl series, “Let’s talk about Pep”.
Musa currently lives and works in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.
Download a PDF copy of MUSA’s biography
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
M.F.A. Sculpture
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York 1998
B.A. Comprehensive Art
Hampton University, Fine Arts Department, Hampton Virginia, May 1995
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS & TALKS
2010 Red Bull Space, HAITI IN:SIGHT, New York, NY
2010 The Nathan Cummings Foundation, Homecoming, New York, NY
2010 Dash Gallery, Art Is, New York, NY
2010 Aichi Triennale, Aichi , Japan
2010 Group Show, Dash Gallery, New York, NY
2010 Mocada Museum, (Artist Talk) the Gentrification of Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY
2010 Mocada Museum, The Gentrification of Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY
2009 Essence Magazine Art Showcase, Love, Art, and Respect, Brooklyn, NY
2009 Littlefield Art space, Absolutely Salacious, Brooklyn NY
2009 Long Island University, We’ve Gotta Have It: Art Inspired by Spike Lee, Brooklyn, NY
2009 CA3, Collective Art, Brooklyn, NY
2009 Gathering of the Tribes Gallery, Solo Exhibition, “View into A New World Landscape” New York, NY
2009 National Black Fine Art Show, “Kenkeleba Gallery”, New York, NY
2008 AC-BAW Gallery, “NCA Golden Anniversary Exhibition” Mount Vernon, NY
2008 S.O.N.Y.A. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2008 Clinton Hill Art Fair, Brooklyn, NY
2008 Long Island University, Solo Exhibition, “Art Incubator”, Brooklyn, NY
2008 The Skylight Gallery, “Intergenerational”, Brooklyn, NY
2008 The Rising Arts Gallery, “Represent Brooklyn”, Brooklyn, NY
2008 Sundaram Tagore Gallery, “Objects of Desire II”, New York, NY
2008 National Black Fine Art Show, “Hatch-Billops Collection”, New York, NY
2008 Wilmer Jennings Gallery, “National Conference of Artists Retrospective”, New York, NY
2007 First Floor Gallery, “Group Installation”, New York, NY
2007 National Black Fine Art Show “Kenkeleba Gallery”, New York, NY
2006 Chelsea Museum Artist Talk on Art “Objects of Desire”, New York, NY
2005 Claire Wood Gallery, “Art Form Its Self”, Brooklyn, NY
2004 Museum of Contemporary African Diasporian Arts, (MoCADA) Benefit Exhibition & Auction Brooklyn, NY
2004 Urban Glass Gallery, “South of the Navy Yard Artists” Brooklyn, NY
2004 S.O.N.Y.A. Gallery, “South of the Navy Yard Artists”, Brooklyn, NY
2004 S.O.N.Y.A. Gallery, “South of the Navy Yard Artists”, Brooklyn, NY
2003 Rongio Gallery, “Spaces and Faces” Brooklyn, NY
2001 Liuns Lair Gallery, “Before I Go”, Atlanta, GA
2000 The Art Exchange, “Reconstructionist Movement”, Atlanta, GA
1999 Corridor Gallery, “Sankofa VII” Brooklyn, NY
1998 Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, “Challenge Exhibition”, Skylight Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
RESIDENCIES
2005 Virginia Center for Creative Arts, Amherst, Virginia
2006 Vermont Studio Center, Johnson Vermont
AWARDS
2009 Tenth Annual Cuba Biennial Travel Grant, Brooklyn Arts Delegation
2007 University of Oxford, Awarded Oxford Round Table Fellowship focused on Art & Humanities University of Oxford, England on the topic of Art and Humanities in Schools
2003 Brooklyn Arts Council, Awarded Re-grant Six consecutive years
2008 – 2009 Adjunct Art History Professor, “Introduction to Fine Art” Bronx Community College, Bronx, New York
2008 – 2009 Professional Artistic Mentor, “Wynton Marsalis Enterprises” New York, NY
2002 – Present Founder & Executive Director, “Brooklyn Art Incubator” Art & Education Not-for-Profit, Brooklyn, New York
2008- 2009 Adjunct Art History Professor, Introduction to Fine Art, John Jay College, New York, NY
2002 – 2009 Adjunct Art History Professor, “Introduction to World Art” Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn, New York
2002 – 2004 Adjunct Art History Professor, “Painting and Drawing”College of New Rochelle, Brooklyn, New York
2001 – 2002 Art & Life Skills Instructor New York City Department of Juvenile Justice System, Bronx, NY
PUBLIC ART
2010 Outdoor Sculptures commissioned by Obama City Japan
2009 Outdoor Sculpture commissioned by and place in the Hattie Carthan Garden, Brooklyn, NY
located at 1500 Fifth Avenue, New York
2001 Outdoor Art Mural Commission, Harlem Hospital, New York, NY