MFA 2008 University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS.
BFA 2000 Memphis College of Art.
Apprenticeship 1999 Brenda Joysmith, Memphis, TN.
2022
31 Flavors, Art Center Sarasota, FL
2021
Something to Say, Galerie Myrtis, Baltimore, ML.
Many Rooms: The South Got Something to Say, Masur Museum, Monroe, LA
“Still”, Reynolds Ryan Art Gallery, Isidore Newman School, New Orleans, LA.
“A Lil Ratchet”, The CMPLX, Memphis, TNFigurative Forms, Southside Gallery, Oxford, MS
Coping Mechanisms, Bridge Gallery, Curated by Fresh A.I.R. Gallery, Columbus, OH
2020
Birds Fly South, 5 Points Art Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
Thought at Work, Bry Hall, University of Louisiana, Monroe, LA
Figurative Impulse, Pellissippi State Community College, Curated by Herb Reith, Knoxville, TN
New Age Nostalgia, Soo Visual Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN
2019
Bout it bout it: The Political Power of Just Being, Hilliard University Art Museum,
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA
Now We Here: The Path to Unconditional Self-Acceptance, Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts, Fond du Lac, WI
Better Days, (solo) Wilson Hall Gallery, University of Alabama at Huntsville, Huntsville, AL
4Eva is a Mighty Long Time, Tom Thomas Gallery, Indiana University East, Richmond, IN
2018
“The Dedication: An Exploration of a People”, (solo) Bethea Gallery, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA.
2017
Louisiana Contemporary Presented by The Helis Foundation, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, Juror: Shantrelle Lewis, Independent Curator. Researcher. Author. Filmmaker.
4th Louisiana Biennial: National Juried Exhibition, Louisiana Tech University, Juror: Rachel Cook, DiverseWorks, Houston, TX.
2016
“Elevator Music #3- Studio Sounds”, Gallery Aferro, Newark, NJ, Curator: Dahlia Elsayed.
“Must Be Two Sides: The Dualities of the Black Experience”, (solo) The McKenna Museum of African American Art, New Orleans, LA.
“Assembled” presented by ArtsMemphis, The Collaboration Part, Memphis, TN.
2015
“Too Hot”, Todd Art Gallery, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN.
2013
“Turnt Up to Da Max” (solo) Joan Mitchell Studio Gallery, New Orleans, LA.
2012
“Outside In”, Masur Museum, Monroe, LA, Curator: Benjamin Hickey.
2008
The Cue Art Foundation presents An Exhibition of Works by the Joan Mitchell Foundation, 2007 MFA Grant Recipients, New York City.
“Bring That Beat Back: The Sound of the Drums, the Streets and the Heart” (Thesis Show), Southside Gallery, Oxford, MS.
2007
“Class of 07”, Lantana Projects, Memphis, TN, Curator: Ian and Elizabeth Lemmons. 2006
North American Graduate Art Survey, Katherine E. Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, Juror: Diane Mullins, Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN.
“Socially Handicap”, (solo)Tennessee Art Commission Gallery, Nashville, TN.
2005
7th Annual Young Painters Competition, Miami University, Oxford, OH, Juror: Sue Taylor, Associate Professor, Portland State University, Portland, OR.
48th Annual Delta Exhibition, Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR, Juror: Roger Shimomura, Professor Emeritus, University of Kansas.
New Power Generation 2005, Hampton University, Hampton, VA, Marianetta Porter, Associate Professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
2022
Voices of Freedom, Kennedy Heights Arts Center, Lindner Annex Gallery, Curated by Michael Coppage, Cincinnati, OH.
Artful Presence: Portraits from the Hattiloo Theatre Collection, Willmott Gallery, Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Memphis, TN.
2021
Off the Wall, 5 Points Art Gallery, Milwaukee, WI.
Twenty Years of Marais Press: Imprinting a Campus and Collection, Hilliard University Art Museum, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA.
Figurative Forms, Southside Gallery, Oxford, MS.
Something to Say, Galerie Myrtis, Baltimore, ML.
Black Creatives Circle presents Many Rooms: The South Got Something to Say, Masur Museum, Monroe, LA Coping Mechanisms, Bridge Gallery, Curated by Fresh A.I.R. Gallery, Columbus, OH
2020
Thought at Work, Bry Hall, University of Louisiana, Monroe, LA
Figurative Impulse, Pellissippi State Community College, Curated by Herb Reith, Knoxville, TN
2019
Thug: An Exploration of Black Masculinity Through Identity, The CMPLX gallery, curated by Eso Tolson, Memphis, TN
Of a New Cool, (2 person) Southside Gallery, Oxford, MS
Welcome to the Afrofuture, Ground Zero, Curated by Gia Hamilton New Orleans African American Museum, New Orleans, LA
My Story: Over 50 Years of Collecting, Masur Museum, Monroe, LA
3 The Hard Way, Houston Museum of African American Culture, Curator: Dominic Clay
Inheritance: A Lineage of Black Art, The CMPLX gallery, curated by Grace Stewart and Lawrence Matthews, Memphis, TN
2018
Welcome to the Afrofuture, The Urban, Curated by Gia Hamilton (Art Basel) Miami, FL
2017
Picturing the Black Fantastic, Lyndon House Arts Center, Athens, GA, Curator: Drek Davis
Bywater Biennial II, Louisiana: A Celebration of Life, New Orleans Art Center, Curator: Don Marshall
Young, Gifted & Dope, Presented by Lyfe is Dope & Alive Paint, Art Village Gallery, Memphis, TN
Louisiana Contemporary, Presented by The Helis Foundation, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, Juror: Shantrelle Lewis, Independent Curator/ Researcher/ Author/ Filmmaker
4th Louisiana Biennial: National Juried Exhibition, Louisiana Tech University, Juror: Rachel Cook, DiverseWorks, Houston, TX
2016
Elevator Music #3- Studio Sounds, Gallery Aferro, Newark, NJ, Curator: Dahlia Elsayed
Assembled, Presented by ArtsMemphis, The Collaboration Part, Memphis, TN
2015
Samo Journey, Photo Nola, Port, New Orleans, LA
Too Hot, Todd Art Gallery, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
Water, Bones & Blood, presented by NIA Artists Collective, MCA Hyde Gallery, Memphis, TN
Identity, Gallery Jatad, Houston, TX
Public/Art/ists, Crosstown Arts, Memphis, TN
2014
Synethesia, Treo New Orleans, Curator: Carl Joe Williams & Ayo Scott. Prospect 3: Satellite Project
Imago Mundi: Reparations, New Orleans Museum of Art, NOLA, Curator: Die
Controlling your Image, Perception, Philander Smith College, Little Rock, AR
2012
Disconnect Notice, Dunbar Gallery, Grambling State University, Grambling, LA
Outside In, Masur Museum, Monroe, LA, Curator: Benjamin Hickey
2008
The Cue Art Foundation presents An Exhibition of Works by the Joan Mitchell Foundation, 2007 MFA Grant Recipients, New York City
Bring That Beat Back: The Sound of the Drums, the Streets and the Heart (Thesis Show), Southside Gallery, Oxford, MS
2007
Texas National 2007, SFA Gallery, Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, TX, Juror: MANUAL (Suzanne Bloom and Ed Hill)
2006
Fuzion 3.0 : Taking On Hip-hop, NIA, Delta Axis @ Marshall Arts, Memphis, TN, Curator: Shalishah Franklin Embrace: The Fine Art Fair of The National Black Arts Festival, Savacou Gallery, Atlanta, GA
North American Graduate Art Survey, Katherine E. Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, Juror: Diane Mullins, Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN
Deep Roots, Hearne Fine Art, Little Rock, AR
33rd Annual Juried Competition, Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA, Juror: Henry Finkelstein, Artist and Professor, Art Academy, NYC.
Group Show, NIA, Grambling University, Grambling, LA
Church Inc. NIA, 4th Floor Art Gallery, Prairie View A & M, Prairie View, TX
Paper in Particular, 27th Annual Juried Exhibition, Columbia College, Columbia, MO, Juror: David Morrison, Herron School of Art, Indianapolis, IN
2005
7th Annual Young Painters Competition, Miami University, Oxford, OH, Juror: Sue Taylor, Associate Professor, Portland State University, Portland, OR
Louisiana Artists 2005, LSU Union Art Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA, Juror: Dean Dablow, Director of the School of Art, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA
NIA: Southern Trees Bare Strange Fruit, Langston Hughes Center, Buffalo, NY, Curator: Mark Dabney, Independent Appraiser
48th Annual Delta Exhibition, Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR, Juror: Roger Shimomura, Professor Emeritus, University of Kansas
Group Show, Southside Gallery, Oxford, MS
Sugar Ditch Rich, NIA, Tunica Museum, Tunica,MS
New Power Generation 2005, Hampton University, Hampton, VA, Marianetta Porter, Associate Professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Something of Our Common Feelings, Delta Axis @ Marshall Arts, Memphis,TN, Curator: Elizabeth Alley, Director of Public Art, UrbanArt Commissions, Memphis,TN
Sugar Ditch Rich, NIA, Tunica Museum, Tunica, MS
2004
NIA: Southern Trees Bear Strange Fruit, Savacou Gallery, New York, NY
Magnolias, Peaches & Cottonfields; The South Revisited, Tilford Art Group,
Los Angeles, CA
Church Inc. Contemporary Religious Visions, NIA, Hiram Van Memorial Gallery, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, Curator: Jerry Waters, Independent Writer
Art with A Southern Drawl, University of Mobile, Mobile, AL
50 Years and Counting: Artists Respond to Brown vs. Topeka, National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis, TN, Curator: Barbara Andrews, National Civil Rights Museum
National Black Fine Art Show, In The Gallery, New York, NY
2003
Hambone and Hot Grease, Savacou Gallery, New York, NY
Dirty Gumbo, Frame Up-Basement Gallery, Oxford, MS
10th Annual Gulf Coast National Juried Art Competition, Texas Artists Museum, Port Arthur, TX
15, In The Gallery, Nashville, TN
2002
Fuzion, NIA, Dorothy Jean Gallery, Memphis, TN
2001
God Bless the Child, NIA, Joysmith Gallery, Memphis, TN
Phi Beta Sigma African American Male Image Awards, Memphis, TN
Arts in the Park, Juried Show, Memphis, TN
2020 - 22
Visiting Assistant Professor, Louisiana Tech University, Fall/Winter/Spring 2020-22
(Instructor of Records) 2 Design, Beginning & Advanced Drawing, Junior Portfolio
2016 - 18
Adjunct Instructor, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Fall 2018 (Instructor of Records) Beginning & Advanced Drawing, Intermediate & Advanced Painting, Research Problems
2012
Adjunct Professor, Grambling State University, Spring/Fall 2012 (Instructor of Records) Visual & Performing Arts, Drawing I & II, Art Appreciation
2022
Juror, Here/Now - UL Lafayette Student Exhibition, Lafayette, LA.
Juror, NAACP ACTSO Competition, Visual Arts, Monroe, LA.
Guest Speaker, NELA Young Professionals, Monroe, LA.
Commissioned Artist, Collage Dance Collective, Memphis, TN.
Commissioned Artist, Lorraine Hansberry, Hattiloo Theatre, Memphis, TN.
2021
Commissioned Artist, Bring Back Louisiana, Louisiana Department of Health , Where Y’Art.
Panelist, Round 1, Open Call Fall 2022, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE.
President, The Black Creatives Circle of North Louisiana.
Co-Director, Outside Gallery, Monroe, LA
Advisor, A.I.R. Studio Paducah, KY.Panelist, Cultural District, Division of the Arts,
Louisiana Office of Cultural Development.
Juror, Union Arts Council, Competitive Art Exhibition , Farmsville, LA.
2020
Juror, North Central Louisiana Art Council, Peach Art Exhibit, Ruston, LA.
Lead Artist, BLM Letter Project, Richwood, LA.
Muralist, “Long Live GODj Star”, The Hub Monroe.
President, The Black Creative Circle of North Louisiana.
2019
Commissioned Artist, Children’s Hero Award, Children’s Bureau of New Orleans Muralist, City of Senatobia, MS.
Visiting Artist, Lincoln Parish Art Workshop, North Central Louisiana Art Council, Ruston, LA.
Commissioned Artist, Children’s Hero Award, Children’s Bureau of New Orleans.
Board Member, Downtown Monroe Association, Monroe, LA.
2018
Board Member, Downtown Monroe Association, Monroe, LA.
Board Member, Downtown Arts Alliance, Monroe, LA.
Adjunct Instructor, University of Louisiana at Monroe, LA.
2017
Muralist, Community Soup Kitchen, Monroe, LA.
Exhibiting Artist, “The Children are Our Future”, Outside Gallery, Monroe, LA.
2016
Muralist, “Protect Her”, The Moonpie Project curated by Michael Roy, Memphis, TN.
Muralist, Union Parish Elementary School, Farmerville, LA. 2015 Muralist, Indianola City Pool, Indianola, MS.
Muralist, Public/ART/ists Part 3, Urban Art Commission, Memphis, TN.
Visiting Artist, 16th Annual Peoplehood Parade, Spiral Q, Philadephia, PA.
Co-Curator, “Well Worn Truths,” (Group exhibition) Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA.
Joan Mitchell Visual Arts Scholar, Roots Week, 39th Annual Meeting & Artists’ Retreat, Alternate Roots, Arden, NC.
2014
Member, Exhibition Committee, Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA.
2013
Visiting Artist, Tougaloo Art Colony, Tougaloo College, Jackson, MS.
2003 - 2011
Vice President, NIA, Artist Collective.
2009
CommissionedArtists, Coaster Project, ArtsMemphis 2009-2010 Bravo Season Kick Off, Hannah Davis Gallery, Memphis,TN
2006
Curator, Salon for Memphis’ Arts Creators, On The Street Gallery, MCA, Memphis, TN
2005
Teacher’s Assistant, University of Mississippi, Fall 2005-06, Art 101.
Co- Curator, Salon for Memphis’ Arts Creators, On The Street Gallery, MCA, Memphis, TN. Artist in Residence, Mitchell High School, Memphis College of Art, Memphis, TN
2004
Artist in Residence, Westwood High School, Memphis College of Art, Memphis,TN
2003
Muralist, "They Cleared the Lane: African American Basketball Pioneers Exhibition" Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration, National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis, TN.
2002
Team Leader, Soulville Gateway Moral Project, Urban Art Commission, Memphis, TN. Installation Assistant, "Everywhere, Simultaneously, Beautifully" Lester Julian Merriweather, ArtLab Gallery, University of Memphis, Memphis,TN
2001
Juror, National Civil Rights Museum Youth Poster Contest.
2022
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Amherst, VA (Residency)
2021
Louisianan of the Year, Artist, 2021, Louisiana Life Magazine.
2020
The Sam and Adele Golden Foundation for the Arts, New Berlin, NY (Residency)
2019
Crosstown Arts, Memphis, TN. (Residency)
Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass Village, CO. (Residency)
2018
The Hermitage Artist Retreat, Englewood, FL. (Residency)
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE. (Residency)
2017
Mass MOCA, North, Adams, MA. (Residency)
New American Paintings, No. 130, South Issue
2016
Joan Mitchell Foundation, New Orleans, LA. (Residency)
2015
Visual Arts scholarship, Joan Mitchell Visual Arts Scholar, Alternate Roots. 2008 Skowhegan School of Art, Skowhegan, ME. (Residency)
2007
Joan Mitchell Foundation, MFA Grant.
2022
Fugate, Marty. “Review: Art Center Sarasota celebrates Black artists with two powerful exhibits.” Herald Tribune, February 5
Louisianans of the Year | Artist. Louisiana Life Magazine, January/February
2021
Gatson, Starla. “Black Creative Circle.” Bayou Life, November.
2019
Gannon, Patricia. “Artist Vitus Shell is a force for change.” The Acadiana Advocate, December 31
Moore, Tash. “Something The Folks Down Home Can Connect With.” Black Art in America.
2018
Kemp, John, Picturing the Black Experience, Louisiana Life, May-June 2017 New American Paintings, No. 130, Southern Issue
2016
Devault, Michael, Future Histories, BayouLife Magazine, February
2015
Causey, Kaleb, Local artist hopes to make big impact with his work, The News Star, August 22
2013
Harris, Kasimu, Vitus Shell: Slimcrowism, Pelicanbomb.com, May 22
2008
McAdams, Alex, Art student makes bold statements, The Daily Mississippian, Feb 29 2006
Maddox, David, Brown Paper Bag Test, Nashville Scene, June 8
2004
Henry, Wiley, Method to the Message. Tri State Defender