Murjoni Merriweather's portfolio

About Murjoni

Sculptor, Murjoni Merriweather grew up in Temple Hills, Maryland. During her time there, she fell in love with art at the age of 8 learning how to draw from trial and error and art kits her parents would give her. After dabbling in photography, drawing, painting and graphic design, Murjoni tried out ceramics by the time she was in 8th grade where her heart grew whole. While feeling so connected to clay, she started making work that reflected the black experience. In 2018 Murjoni graduated… more

View Murjoni's Resume

S E E D

Initially, we do not see the fruits of our labor and feel nothing is happening. With patience, self-trust, and care, the sprouts do come. Nature allows me to slow down and treat the present moment as a gift.

I have been planting seeds and practicing the patience to watch them grow. I believe people and gardens share a through-line, a natural connection to an essential element of life. While they germinate, they have to be nourished and cared for with consistent dedication, even when you can't see the roots quietly expanding under the surface.

I've started to exercise my green thumb: I craved to feel more connected to nature. It has been healing for me. The idea of connection extends to a spiritual relationship with the ground. In Bell Hook's Belonging, she says, "black people must reclaim a spiritual legacy where we connect our well-being to the Earth. This is a necessary dimension of healing."

I want you to feel Earth through my work so that a "grounding" can take place. Feeling the warmth beneath our feet brings a sense of freedom, self-awareness, and divine closeness. Each individual sculpture embodies a personality and inherent potential that is within all of us. Come, reflect, explore, and get a little dirty in an exercise of spiritual healing and emotional recovery.

S E E D (Installation)

S E E D ,detail
(Installation)
Ceramics, Dirt, paint, foam, concrete
56 x 20 x 15, 51 x 20 x 15, 25 x 12 x 10 inches
2024
S E E D (detail)

S E E D ,detail
(Installation)
Ceramics, Dirt, paint, foam, concrete
56 x 20 x 15, 51 x 20 x 15, 25 x 12 x 10 inches
2024
SEED (detail)

S E E D ,detail
(Installation)
Ceramics, Dirt, paint, foam, concrete
56 x 20 x 15, 51 x 20 x 15, 25 x 12 x 10 inches
2024
SEED (detail)

S E E D ,detail
(Installation)
Ceramics, Dirt, paint, foam, concrete
56 x 20 x 15, 51 x 20 x 15, 25 x 12 x 10 inches
2024
S E E D (detail)

S E E D ,detail
(Installation)
Ceramics, Dirt, paint, foam, concrete
56 x 20 x 15, 51 x 20 x 15, 25 x 12 x 10 inches
2024
S E E D (detail)

S E E D ,detail
(Installation)
Ceramics, Dirt, paint, foam, concrete
56 x 20 x 15, 51 x 20 x 15, 25 x 12 x 10 inches
2024
S E E D (detail)

Visitors were called to dig up their own seeds: Ceramic seed shaped circles that have words of affirmation on them. Visitors were able to take those seeds home to plant words of encouragement in their own homes.
S E E D ,detail
(Installation)
Ceramics, Dirt, paint, foam, concrete
56 x 20 x 15, 51 x 20 x 15, 25 x 12 x 10 inches
2024
S E E D (detail)

Visitors were called to dig up their own seeds: Ceramic seed shaped circles that have words of affirmation on them. Visitors were able to take those seeds home to plant words of encouragement in their own homes.
S E E D ,detail
(Installation)
Ceramics, Dirt, paint, foam, concrete
56 x 20 x 15, 51 x 20 x 15, 25 x 12 x 10 inches
2024
S E E D (detail)

Close up of brown textured wall and dirt that matches the same color
S E E D ,detail
(Installation)
Ceramics, Dirt, paint, foam, concrete
56 x 20 x 15, 51 x 20 x 15, 25 x 12 x 10 inches
2024

F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (F T W L T)

What does it feel like to be truly seen? To be understood?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted that: someone to notice the details, to read between the lines. But people are often too busy, wrapped up in their own worlds, sometimes unable even to understand their own feelings, let alone mine. I can understand that…

And yet, I’ve always wondered: if I became more mysterious, would people look a little longer? Would they finally see me?

From a distance, these sculptures appear as deep black forms, velvety, soft, inviting. But as you move closer, colors emerge beneath the surface. Each color represents an emotion for the viewer to decipher, waiting for connection, waiting for recognition. These works are about what it feels like to be seen, but not fully understood. Unless someone makes the effort to look deeper.

With time, I’ve learned that not everyone is meant to see you. But there will be ones who will pause, lean in, and take a longer look. They might even understand.

Thank you anyway.

-MM

F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (F T W L T)
F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (1)

F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (1)
Ceramic, Flocking
19 x 8.5 x 8.5 inches
2025
F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (1), detail

F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (1), detail
Ceramic, Flocking
19 x 8.5 x 8.5 inches
2025
F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (1), detail

F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (1), detail
Ceramic, Flocking
19 x 8.5 x 8.5 inches
2025
F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (2)

F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (2)
Ceramic, Flocking
20 x 8.5 x 10 inches
2025
F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (2), detail

F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (2), detail
Ceramic, Flocking
20 x 8.5 x 10 inches
2025
F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (2), detail

F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (2) , detail
Ceramic, Flocking
20 x 8.5 x 10 inches
2025
F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (3)

F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (3)
Ceramic, Flocking
20 x 8.5 x 8.5 inches
2025
F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (3), detail

F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (3) ,detail
Ceramic, Flocking
20 x 8.5 x 8.5 inches
2025
F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (3), detail

F O R T H O S E W H O L O O K T W I C E (3) ,detail
Ceramic, Flocking
20 x 8.5 x 8.5 inches
2025