By: Carrie Usmar
About Me
Carrie Usmar is an artist, writer, and stay at home mother living in rural Rhode Island with her husband and four children. Living in day-to-day isolation and raising kids in a never enough culture has made her value the beauty of being real and the art of slowing down. Her narrative work is devoted to exposing shame, being vulnerable, and building connection. She uses a documentary practice and fantastical approach to address the stigmas of domestic motherhood and depression.
Carrie received a BFA from the University of Rhode Island with a focus in photography and filmmaking. She has exhibited in group exhibitions at Rhode Island Center For Photographic Arts, Newport Art Museum and The Curated Fridge as well as online exhibitions on The Luupe and L.A. Photo Curator. She also received best series in the Women Seen By Women category of the 18th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards and best series in the Culture and Daily Life category of the 18th Pollux Awards.
For Inquiries: carrieusmar@gmail.com
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022
Summer 2022, Juror: Aline Smithson, The Curated Fridge
2022 Newport Biennial, Juror: Dr Kimberli Gant, PhD, Newport Art Museum, Newport, RI
8th International Call For Art, Juror: Jessica Roscio, RI Center for Photographic Arts, Providence, RI
2009
URI Senior Student Showcase, Gallery Z, Providence, RI
Imago Fem, West Side Arts, Providence, RI
2008
URI Senior Student Thesis, Fine Art Center, Kingston, RI
ONLINE EXHIBITIONS
2022
How We See Ourselves, The Luupe
Love Our Children, Curator: Laurie Frietag, L.A. Photo Curator
The “I” A Call for Self Portraiture, Curator: Ellen Friedlander, L.A. Photo Curator
2021
Storyteller’s Exhibition, RI Center For Photographic Arts
AWARDS AND GRANTS
2022
Best Series, Non-Professional Culture and Daily Life Category, 18th Pollux Awards
Lenscratch Feature Winner, The Curated Fridge Summer 2022, Juror: Aline Smithson
Best Series, Non-Professional Women Seen By Women Category, 18th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards
Honorable Mention for “Actively Listens”, The “I” A Call for Self Portraiture, Curator: Ellen Friedlander, L.A. Photo Curator
PRESS
2022
18th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards, Fotonostrum Magazine, Issue 27, June 2022
A Critique of “Resume Of A Stay At Home Mom” on The Crit House with reviewers Phil Penman and Derek Fahsbender
Audio Guide of “Laundry Specialist” at The Newport Biennial, Newport Art Museum, Newport RI