Marcè Nixon-Washington

Artist Statement

My current body of work "Orange Crate Memories" is an expression of my experiences as a young black woman growing up in Pittsburgh, PA. The orange crate has been a household staple in Pittsburgh since I can remember. An orange crate, most likely ‘borrowed’ from the corner store, holds some of my best memories. From getting my hair braided on the porch to playing basketball with fake gold teeth. I am inspired by my lived experiences, West African textiles & ceramic history. Beneath the adornment of my work are rich meditative marks, that sing songs of resistance. Clay is archival, and every time I create I hear my grandma's laughter saying 'they couldn't erase me'.

Artist Bio

Marcè Nixon-Washington is a multidisciplinary artist based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She received her BFA from West Virginia University with a focus in Africana Studies. Marcè studied Ceramics in Jingdezhen, China, where she found her love for shards and ceramic history. She investigates ceramics as an archival material to record personal and cultural history. Her work has been exhibited at The Mufei Gallery in Jingdezhen, China, The Carnegie Museum of Art, and The 2022 NCECA Conference. She has been awarded residencies at The Manchester Craftsman Guild, Haystack Mountain School of Craft, and is the current resident at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts & Media.