about
biography
Carrie Usmar is an artist, writer, and stay at home mother living in rural Rhode Island with her husband and four children. Living in day-to-day isolation and raising kids in a never enough culture has made her value the beauty of being real and the art of slowing down. Her narrative work is devoted to exposing shame, being vulnerable, and building connection. She uses a documentary practice to address the stigmas of domestic motherhood and depression.
Usmar received a BFA from the University of Rhode Island with a focus in photography and filmmaking. She has exhibited in group exhibitions at Rhode Island Center For Photographic Arts, Newport Art Museum, Hera Gallery, and The Curated Fridge as well as online exhibitions on The Luupe, L.A. Photo Curator, and Lenscratch. She also received best series in the Women Seen By Women category of the 18th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards and best series in the Culture and Daily Life category in the 18th Pollux Awards. She is also a top 200 finalist for 2022 Critical Mass.
EDUCATION
2009
University Of Rhode Island
Bachelor Of Fine Arts
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
Fourth Annual Juried Members Spotlight Exhibition, Juror: Emily Belz, RI Center For Photographic Arts, Providence RI
Local Voices: A Hera Invitations Exhibition On Motherhood, Hera Gallery, Wakefield, RI
Procreate Project Archive at Lewisham Shopping Centre, London, UK
Third Annual Community Members Invitational, RI Center For Photographic Arts, Providence, RI
2022
Fourth Annual Juried Members Exhibition, Juror: Kristin Street, RI Center For Photographic Arts, Providence RI
Summer 2022, Juror: Aline Smithson, The Curated Fridge
8th International Call For Art, Juror: Jessica Roscio, RI Center for Photographic Arts, Providence, RI
2022 Newport Biennial, Juror: Dr Kimberli Gant, PhD, Newport Art Museum, Newport, RI
2009
URI Senior Student Showcase, Gallery Z, Providence, RI
Imago Fem, West Side Arts, Providence, RI
2008
URI Senior Student Thesis, Fine Art Center, Kingston, RI
ONLINE EXHIBITIONS
2023
Visions Of Motherhood 2023, The Luupe
#WomenWhoCare Campaign, Fem Lens
How We See Ourselves 2023, The Luupe
2022
How We See Ourselves 2022, The Luupe
Love Our Children, Curator: Laurie Frietag, L.A. Photo Curator
The “I” A Call for Self Portraiture, Curator: Ellen Friedlander, L.A. Photo Curator
2021
Storyteller’s Exhibition, RI Center For Photographic Arts
AWARDS AND GRANTS
2023
Eddie Adams Workshop Class of XXXVI
Mother Art Prize Shortlist 2023
2022
Top 200 Critical Mass Finalist 2022
Best Series, Non Professional Culture And Daily Life Category, 18th Pollux Awards
Lenscratch Feature Winner, The Curated Fridge Summer 2022, Juror: Aline Smithson
Best Series, Non-Professional Women Seen By Women Category, 18th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards
Honorable Mention for “Actively Listens”, The “I” A Call for Self Portraiture, Curator: Ellen Friedlander, L.A. Photo Curator
PRESS
2022
Revisiting A Project, The Crit House, Jeff Larason
The Curated Fridge: Carrie Usmar: Resume Of A Stay At Home Mom, Lenscratch September 2022
18th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards, Fotonostrum Magazine, Issue 27, June 2022
A Critique of “Resume Of A Stay At Home Mom” on The Crit House with reviewers Phil Penman and Derek Fahsbender
Audio Guide of “Laundry Specialist” at The Newport Biennial, Newport Art Museum, Newport RI
MEMBERSHIPS
2023
Hera Gallery Associate Member
Rhode Island Center For Photographic Arts
Griffin Museum
Updated 08/01/23