ASU School of Art alumnus Papay Solomon was selected to show his work in an exhibition at the Phoenix Art Museum in the spring of 2019.
Solomon’s life as an African refugee influences his work. He says he uses his art to tell the stories of other immigrants also living between two worlds.
The exhibition was part of the Phoenix Art Museum Artists’ Grants, which foster the creation of contemporary art by supporting and encouraging emerging artists working in Arizona. From a competitive pool of applicants who respond to an annual open call, Artists’ Grants recipients are selected by a jury. Up to five grants of $2,000 each are awarded to the recipients, who then present work in a group exhibition. Papay was one four artists selected to show work this year, with the museum stating that his paintings and large-scale portraits challenge the preconceptions of young people of the African Diaspora in the West.
Solomon recently announced he will be working on his art full time.
“I’ve resigned from my bank job to pursue my childhood dreams,” Solomon posted on his Instagram. “I recall when I was a scrawny 5-year-old boy stuck in a refugee camp, all I wanted to become was a well-known artist. I was clueless as to how I was going to make that happen. I did not have access to a museum or even an art book to read/look at for inspiration. Regardless of all the odds, I just knew.”
