Marcus Blake, Mdotblake. Inc.
Marcus Blake (Kingston, JA- Miami, FL)
mdotblake@gmail.com | mdotblake.com | @mdotblake | 786-316-5834
ABOUT
I am a Jamaican-born, Miami-based multimedia artist. My work includes poetry, street art, fashion, performance, event coordinating and visual art. The interest, need and love for creativity began as an early teen. It was the greatest and healthiest way to express and interpret my life at the time, and it stuck with me until now. Creating is my life. My poetry expresses social injustices, personal experiences and the common struggles of everyday life. My street artwork reflects bright colors as well as intricately mixed vivid geometric patterns. I call this method "Tapenology." I am influenced by the sequence of nature and the tropical landscape, as well as the architecture of Miami. My work can be seen throughout the streets of Miami. My other art works consist of intricate collages and acrylic on canvas.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My art is a byproduct of time which is an improvisational moment that captures a little piece of the inner workings of my mind. The arrangements are spastic and random, guided only by my subconscious. I never set out to be an artist or to create artwork that anyone can relate to, nor is my work ever sketched out or premeditated. My motive is to explore the medium of nonverbal communication through shapes, color, and symbolism to create a space of speculation and intrigue.
I believe the act of creation is the true essence of the soul; art is creation and creation is freedom from the bondage of the 3rd dimension. The nature of my work tends to be self-reflective, raw, colorful, detailed and unpolished. I don't always focus on the message. My work is conveying, but there is definitely madness and magic in the method.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
“Fruits of Our Labor” FIU Biscayne Bay Campus, North Miami, FL 2022
“Art of Black Activation” Anglers Hotel, Miami Beach, 2022
“Uptown 7 Avenue Arts & Culture Festival” Miami, FL 2021
“The Betsy Hotel” Juneteenth Celebration, Miami Beach, FL 2021
“Seat At The Table” Black History Month, Surfcomber Hotel/Miami Beach, FL 2021
“Miami Building & Zoning Building” Miami, FL 2019
“MdotBasel” Solo Gallery for Art Basel/Miami, FL 2018
“Shop N Sip Social Solo Display” Swim Week, AC Hotels/Miami Beach, FL 2018
“Photo booth for Samsung S9 Confetti Flash Release Party” Nobu Eden Roc Hotel/Miami Beach, FL 2018
“Slave to Creation” Alfred DuPont Building/Miami, FL 2018
“Rebel Renaissance” The Vagabond/ Miami, FL 2012
“Loft Souls” Wynwood Lofts/Miami, FL 2011
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
“Geometrics Reimagined” Key Biscayne, FL 2021
“Amerant Bank” Coral Gables/Miami, FL 2021
“Global/Borderless Caribbean XII” Little Haiti Cultural Center/Miami, FL 2020
“DVCAI Virtual Art Fair” Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator/Miami, FL 2020
“Eyes Wide Open” The B Complex/Atlanta, GA 2020
”Levis Indigo Room Exhibition” Levis Haus/Miami, FL 2019
“MJ Basel Art Showcase” Miami Jewish Health/Miami, FL 2019
“Autochthonous Toward a New Indigene” Swamp Space Gallery/Miami, FL 2019
“Paradise Summit Miami, Art Basel Edition” Emerson Dorsch Gallery/Miami, FL 2018
“Visions of the Future” Little Haiti Cultural Center, Artist Series Exhibition/Miami, FL 2018
Renegade Art Space/Miami Beach, FL 2017
Little Haiti Cultural Arts Center/Miami, FL 2015
“The Bridge” The Bridge Art Space/Miami, FL 2014
“Wynwood University Group Show” Mana, Wynwood/Miami FL 2013
LIVE PAINTINGS
“Seatrade Cruise Global Conference” Miami Beach, FL 2022
“Love is Love Miami” Normandy Fountain, Miami Beach, FL 2021
“Art of GoGo Festival” Virginia Key Beach, FL 2021
“TCT Cardiology Conference” GMCVB representation/San Francisco, CA 2019
“Miami’s Underwater & Feeling the Heat” Traveling mural project, Miami Climate Alliance/Miami, FL 2019
“Caribbean 305” MANA Convention Center/Miami FL 2019
“Sea Trade Cruise Global Conference” Miami Beach Convention Center/Miami Beach, FL 2019
“Council on Foundations” at the Loews Hotel/Miami Beach, FL 2019
“Jack Daniels: Mural on a Mannequin” at Miami Beach Pride/Miami Beach, FL 2019
“VM Foundation: Jamaican Women of FL” Conference/Miami, FL 2019
“DRAW” Annual Live Drawing Party, Art Center |South Florida/Miami, FL 2019
“Resolution 2019” Barry University Live Painting/Miami, FL 2019
“Miami Dade College Voter Registration Campaign” Live Interactive Painting/Miami, FL 2018
“Art Is Life Festival” Live Mural Painting/Liberty City, FL 2018
“The Urban” MIA Art Basel Live Painting, Afro Future Society/Overtown, FL 2018
“VJ Mixology” sponsored by Nissan, hosted by Vanessa James/Live Interactive Painting/Miami, FL 2018
“Greenpeace” Live Mural Painting/Miami, FL 2017
“Dan Paul Park Chalk-tacular” Live Mural Painting/Miami, FL 2015
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
“Meyga Learning Center” (exterior & interior murals) 2022
“Tiago’s Tacos” (interior mural) 2022
“Pizza & Beer” (exterior mural) 2021
“Appleton Estate Installation” (interior mural) 2021
“NoMi Electric Boxes Installation” (exterior object) 2021
“The Joint of Miami” (interior wall) 2021
“101 NW 3rd St Plexiglass Installation” (exterior wall) 2021
“Keon Hardemon Law Office” (exterior mural) 2021
“Metro PCS Little Haiti” (exterior mural) 2020
“Space Real Estate” (interior mural) 2020
“Community Free-dge” Roots Collective Community Fridge (exterior object) 2020
“Adelita’s Café” (exterior mural) 2020
“Chef Creole” (exterior mural) 2020
“Woosh Water” water machine design, Lenox and Lincoln Rd., South Beach 2020
“The Nest” Lincoln Road Eatery (interior mural) 2020
Law office of City of Miami’s Commissioner Keon Hardemon (exterior mural) 2019
“Thynk Global” Work Space (exterior mural) 2019
Wood/BNB Burger (exterior mural) 2019
“Tapeo Miami” Coral Gables Restaurant (interior mural) 2019
Bagua (exterior mural) 2019
The Miami Edition Hotel (interior mural) 2019
“Soul City” 7th Ave. Beautification Project 2019
The Kingdom Learning Academy (exterior mural) 2019
Morningside K-8 Center (exterior mural) 2019
Orchard Villa Elementary School (exterior mural 2018)
Arts at The Elks (exterior mural) 2018
The Launch Pad, University of Miami (interior mural) 2018
Midtown Eye Center (exterior mural) 2018
61st/NW 7th Ave. Beautification Project (exterior mural) 2018
Space Called Tribe, Co-work Space (interior mural) 2018
Sandwich Where? (exterior mural) 2018
C.I.C. Miami Co-work Space (interior mural) 2017
Taylor Moxey Library (exterior mural) 2017
AC Hotels/Marriott (exterior mural) 2016
Mid-Point Shopping Center (exterior columns mural) 2016
Coastal Imports (exterior mural) 2016
1111 Biscayne Office Building (interior mural) 2016
ACCOLADES
“In Miami, the Murals Are the Message” New York Times, New York, NY 2019
“MIA Magazine/ Art of Black” Award, Miami, FL 2018
“The Ellie’s - Miami’s Visual Arts” Award, Art Center | South Florida, Miami Beach, FL 2018
“Best street artist of the year" Miami New Times, Miami, FL 2016
WORKSHOPS
“Virtual Guided Art Project” Art Week, Miami Children’s Museum, 2020
“North Miami Middle School Art Workshop” Miami, FL 2019
“Jack & Jill, Boys & Girls Mentor Program”/ Ft. Lauderdale, FL 2019
“Miami Urban Contemporary Experience Sip & Paint” led by Marcus Blake/Overtown, FL 2018
CREATIVE EVENTS AND HOSTING
“MOCA Summer Camp Tour & Workshop” Miami, FL 2022
“NoMi Caribe Arts Fest” North Miami, FL 2022
“Paint with a Twist: Trap & RnB” Barry University/Miami, FL 2019
Featured in an episode of Art Loft South Florida, PBS, Air Date: 02.12.19
“Miami Rising” Climate Change Poster design/Miami, FL 2018
“Wynwood Coloring Book” (artwork featured) Miami, FL 2018
“Portal Open Mic" featured in an episode of “No Passport Required with Chef Marcus Samuelsson”, 2018
“Portal Open Mic" Mdotblake, Inc./Miami, FL 2018
"The Portal” B.A.S.E. Art Space/Miami, FL 2017
“The Imperial” The Stage/Miami, FL 2014-2016
“March for Climate Change” Poster design/Miami, FL 2015
“Pin Up Pop Up Poetry: O”, Miami” Art Center | South Florida/Miami, FL 2013
“Stone Grove Sessions” WVUM |The Voice/Coral Gables, FL 2011-2012
“Stone Groove” The Vagabond/Miami, FL 2008-2014
“Blake Carrington Supper Club” B.E.D./Miami, FL 2008
“Style Sundays” The Clevelander/Miami, FL 2004
COLLECTIONS
Private Collection, New York 2018-2020
Private Collection, Miami FL 2014-2019
Private Collection, Houston TX 2013
Private Collection, San Diego CA 2008
CREATIVE DESIGN
“Past, Presents and Future” Christmas tree concept, The Edition Hotel/Miami, FL 2019
“Spirit Shirt Logo” Morningside K-8 Center/ Miami, FL 2019
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
“GMCVB Partner Planning Virtual Workshop“/Virtual, 2020