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BIOGRAPHY
Myrna C. Williams, also known as Mernie Baker, was born in New York in 1969. She is a Puerto Rican-Irish artist with a deep commitment to understanding and expressing her cultural identity through her work. Mernie holds a Bachelor of Industrial Design from Pratt Institute (1997) and a Master of Social Work from Adelphi University (2007). Her art blends multiple facets of life, combining cultural, historical, and personal experiences. Mernie's exhibitions span the United States, including notable shows in New York, California, and South Carolina. Her art residency in Ellenville, NY, contributed to her ongoing exploration of identity and societal themes.
Artist Statement
"My paintings are images that combine many different facets of life. Mostly from memory and imagination, I work to understand my culture, history, family, and the world around me. As a half-Puerto Rican and Irish individual, I have always grown amidst the collage of these two nationalities, seeing how they immerse and repel each other. My artwork represents this style of comparison, contrasting human experiences through color variations, 2D flatness, and 3D dimensions. I often use symbolic elements like Jesus and Messydog to evoke a deeper connection with the viewer."