About
Storytelling is an integral part of Black culture. As a Caribbean oral historian and artist from Harlem, NY, this is a critical idea that propels Saida Blair’s work as a storyteller.
Blair’s interest in storytelling was sparked as a child when trying to understand her cultural background as a Trinidadian and Jamaican girl; sneaking into the hallway to grasp the whispers of her aunts and uncle gossiping about home. She pieced together these different narratives, creating a visual mosaic of what “home” looked like to her.
Blair carries on this methodology now as an adult. She collects stories shared with her and uses her passion for art to create conversations around topics and events that affect herself and her community. She uses a mixture of contemporary and archival images from various timelines to create a dynamic narrative of the past. Her goal in creating these conversations is to have people engage with the works in a brave and open environment.
Blair graduated from SUNY Purchase, where she obtained a BFA in Photography and Art History. She is currently attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, obtaining her MA in Visual and Critical Studies.
Exhibitions/Publications
The Black Domestic, Co-Curator - April to June 2024, The GREYSTONE Collective, Chicago, IL
COBRA Brings Black Graduate Students Together, Featured - Feburary 2024
The Black Domestic, Co-Curator - August to September 2023, SITE Galleries, Chicago, IL
8 Black Female Photographers to Watch in 2023, Featured Artist - February 2023, PhMusem x Black Women Photographers
Homeplace, Curated by Jordan Barrant, Featured Artist - October 2022, SAIC Open Studios, Chicago, IL
Sub Mag #72, Featured Artist - September 2020, Sub Magazine, Purchase, NY
Hair Stories Untold, Featured Artist - April 2020, Davis Gallery, Geneva, NY
16 Hours on Sunday, Featured Artist - March 2020, Purchase College, Purchase, NY
Scholastic Gold Key Award Show, Winner - February 2017, Scholastic Art & Writing Gold Key Winners Exhibition, The Metropolitan Museum, New York, NY
Scholastic Gold Key Award Show, Winner - February 2016, Scholastic Art & Writing Gold Key Winners Exhibition, The Metropolitan Museum, New York, NY
Scholastic Silver Key Award Show, Winner - February 2015, Scholastic Art & Writing Silver Key Winners Exhibition, Tishman Auditorium, The New School, New York, NY
Photoville, Featured Artist - September 2015, NYC SALT container, Dumbo Brooklyn, NY
NYC SALT, Featured Artist - June 2015, See Salt Annual Show, The Art Directors Club, New York, NY
Awards
New Artists Society Scholarship - 2022-2024
World Less Traveled Student Travel Award - 2024
Graduate Dean Professional Development Award - 2023
Werling Senior Project Grant - 2021
Scholastic Gold Key Award - 2017
Scholastic Gold Key Award - 2016
Scholastic Silver Key Award - 2015