Bio
Asher Williams is a Jamaican artist living and working in West Orange, New Jersey. His work explores the intricate relationship between culture and mindset, particularly how these two forces shape personal identity and human behavior. Through his paintings, Asher Williams examines the tension that arises when cultural, traditions and inherited belief systems clash with individual perspectives and modern realities. His art delves into the ways people are shaped by their environments and how these influences either restrict or liberate their thoughts, leading to profound internal conflicts and transformations.
Born in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Asher Williams' artistic sensibilities were deeply influenced by the vivid contrasts of his homeland—its natural beauty juxtaposed with social and economic challenges. These dualities fueled his early reflections on how culture defines both collective and personal identities. As Asher Williams grew, he became increasingly aware of the psychological forces at play in how people adopt, resist, or evolve within the belief systems they inherit. This inspired him to create works that challenge viewers to reflect on their own cultural conditioning and the mental frameworks that guide their actions and decisions.
Asher Williams earned a Diploma in Painting from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in 2010, where he developed a deep interest in how art can communicate the complexities of the human mind. His work is characterized by its use of symbolism and abstract forms to convey the invisible battles waged between inherited cultural mindsets and personal growth. Through this exploration, Asher Williams seeks to inspire a deeper understanding of the internal and external forces that shape who we are.
CV
Born in (1980) Ocho Ris, Jamaica
Resides and works in West Orange New Jersey
Exhibitions:
2009: Curator’s Selections, CAG[e] Gallery, Edna Manley College, Kingston
2009: Guiding Light Foundation Auction, Kingston
2005: Staff and Student Exhibition, Durham Art Council Gallery, North Carolina, USA
2010: Guiding Light Foundation Auction, Mandeville
Art Fair, Studio 174
2023: Group Exhibition, West orange Art Council, New Jersey
2024: Group Exhibition, Zufall Health, West Orange New Jersey
EDUCATION:
2010: Edna Manley College, Jamaica, Kingston
Diploma in Fine Art
2003: Durham Art Council, North Carolina, USA
Certificate in Drawing and Painting
1999: Oracobessa High School
AWARDS:
1998: Almond Tree Young Artist of the Year (High School Competition)
2009: Mandeville Committee Scholarship
2010: The Most Outstanding Student (Edna Manley College)