About Phylicia Ghee

The Hackerman 2025 Artist in Residence is Phylicia Ghee.

Phylicia Ghee is an interdisciplinary visual artist, photographer and curator whose work documents transition, explores healing, rites-of-passage, ritual and genetic memory. Ghee thrives on creating immersive worlds that explore interiority, both physically and psychologically. Taught by her Grandfather at an early age; Ghee works in photography, performance, video, fibers, mixed media, installation & painting. She earned her BFA in Photography with a Concentration in Curatorial Studies from Maryland Institute College of Art in 2010.

In 2023 Ghee completed a 3-month artist residency at The Nicholson Project in Southeast, D.C., which culminated in an immersive, multi-sensory solo exhibition. Ghee has exhibited and performed at NYU, Art on the Vine (Martha’s Vineyard), Young Collectors Contemporary (Memphis, TN), The Banneker Douglass Museum, The Walters Art Museum, Fridman Gallery (NY, 2020 Virtual Exhibition), Studio Art Centers International (Florence, Italy), The Margulies Warehouse (Miami, FL) and The African American Museum (Philadelphia, PA), among others.

Ghee was named 2020 & 2024 Baker Artist Award Finalist, 2019 & 2020 Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize Finalist, and 2020 Pratt>FORWARD Fellow. In 2021 Ghee received the Maryland State Arts Council Independent Artist Award, recognizing notable artistic achievement.

As a certified Yoga Nidra facilitator and studying herbalist, Ghee has taught workshops and held day-long retreats in Baltimore, MD, New Orleans, LA and Ibadan, Nigeria where she explored photography, installation, assemblage, herbalism, rest practices and the powerful connection between art and healing.

Ghee received recognition from Maryland’s former First Lady Yumi Hogan & the Maryland Behavioral Health Administration for her art and activism in raising awareness on issues surrounding mental health, behavioral health and substance use disorder. In addition to her art practice, Ghee has a distinguished 20-year career as a professional photographer, notably serving as the first Black Woman and only one of 22 photographers in American history to work as Official Photographer for the U.S. Capitol, House of Representatives.

Contact & Office Hours

Email: info@phyliciaghee.com
Instagram: @phyliciaghee

Available by appointment in the Artist in Residence Collaboration Classroom (Central Library, second floor) on days to be determined.

Images above courtesy of the artist, via phyliciaghee.com.

Q&A with Phylicia Ghee

Welcome to the Pratt Library! Tell us a bit about yourself and your background as an artist.

My introduction to art came from my grandfather Ghee, also an interdisciplinary artist. He was always creating—whether as a sculptor, illustrator, carpenter, crafter, or gardener. My grandfather ensured I grew up surrounded by plants, mosaics, and all the art supplies I could imagine. I watched him work as an artist during a time when opportunities for Black artists were scarce to non-existent. He carved out a path for himself, working at W.B. Donor, Channel 13 News' Art Department, and eventually becoming an entrepreneur, drawing caricatures at the Inner Harbor for over 25 years until his eyesight began to fade from corneal disease, which he had struggled with since the age of 20.

My grandfather started his professional career with a studio in his closet at age 22, and my grandmother supported his art career in every way she could. Witnessing their union and his success as an artist was incredibly inspiring. My mother is also an artist, a poet and a writer; and my uncle was a painter and illustrator until he developed multiple sclerosis. My mother would create small drawings, often of flowers, and write poems alongside them. My grandmother is a seamstress, deeply skilled with numbers, and exceptional with a needle and thread.

Surrounded by these artistic influences, I found my path to art. It became my language, the way I communicate and understand myself and the world around me.

Now, with my grandparents nearing 80 and my grandfather being legally blind, he has never stopped making art. He remains unrelenting, still creating beautiful paintings every day, with my grandmother's unwavering support and love.

Their resilience has instilled in me a determination to never give up. I am driven by their legacy.

Why is it important for libraries to have artists working in residence?

Having artists in residence at libraries is important for several reasons. Artists bring a unique level of engagement to the community that visits libraries. We usually consider museums to be the storehouses of collective memory; however, libraries often embody this role more firmly and inclusively. Libraries, especially the Enoch Pratt Free Library, are characterized by their commitment to accessibility. This central function means that libraries attract a diverse range of visitors who might not frequent museums and galleries.

Art has the capacity to create transformative experiences that can inspire creativity and reflection. In addition, the library holds a wealth of resources that inspire artists and their artwork, from art histories to biographical and autobiographical books.

Having artists in residence at the library has the potential to create a mutually enriching, expansive, and inspiring synergy among the community, between the artist, library staff and visitors.

What can Library customers expect from your residency?

For the residency at Enoch Pratt Free Library, I plan to explore a deeply personal collaboration with my grandmother to create a quilt that delves into themes of lineage, memory, and ancestral connection. This quilt will incorporate self-portraits, family photographs, MRI scans, and natural fabrics, weaving together both personal and collective histories.

Additionally, I envision a second quilt as a collaborative community time capsule, inviting participants of all ages to contribute quilt squares and pockets filled with keepsakes, memories, and letters. This project aims to foster a dynamic dialogue between the past, present, and future. I am also eager to immerse myself in the library's resources, which I hope will further inspire and influence the work I plan to develop during my residency.

What advice would you give an aspiring artist?

I would advise aspiring artists to trust their inner inclinations and embrace what feels right for them in their work. Be unreserved in following your instincts and listen to those inner whispers. Also, being a true artist doesn’t mean you are constantly actively creating artwork; research, rest, recalibration, and time spent in nature are all integral parts of the artistic process.

For those who wish to make a career out of their artistic practice, it’s crucial to understand the aspects of maintaining a successful career that aren't always covered in college. College may not fully prepare you for the realities of life as an artist, it surely is not what prepared me. Connect with other artists and entrepreneurs and be diligent in building a strong foundation for your career. It’s a complex journey, and perhaps we can discuss it further at the library sometime…

Learn more about Phylicia Ghee and upcoming programs at prattlibrary.org/artists. Explore more about the artist at her website, phyliciaghee.com and on Instagram @phyliciaghee.