Nasir Young received his BFA from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Art. Nasir is currently represented by Gross McCleaf Gallery in Philadelphia. In 2020 he was awarded The Raymond D. & Estelle Rubens Travel Scholarship to go to London. Young was awarded an illuminate arts grant in 2021 and 2022, he was the Second place winner of the Philadelphia Sketch Club 158th exhibition of small oils, a 2022 Davinci Art Alliance Resident, and 2023 Delaware Contemporary resident. Nasir’s primary source of imagery is the everyday scenes of urban inner city life. He has had multiple group shows in Philadelphia, and online exhibitions.
The landscape that draws me in is one familiarity; spaces, memories,stories can be joined and exited. The work comes from a place of my hyper awareness of my surroundings.I am a person who walks down the street looking at the brick and mortar, the markings on the wall, the trash on the ground wondering about its story.My practice starts with the world around me;guided by the happenstance moments that you would miss if you blink just once. I document the small wonders.these range from shadows dancing around objects, visual clutter that tells a story. These may sit in my sketchbooks for months or years before it is time to use them. Every page of these books evokes memories of moments capturing a story that viewers often can relate too.I have to sit with this imagery and discover why it emotionally stirred me. When I go to bring these creations to life I use observation, studying the tiniest details of information that could be easily overlooked. My landscapes,and buildings are my characters with figures as supporting props. often depicting a drama and story with no figure ever being present.
My most recent work comes hand and hand with the past two years i lived in south philadelphia. Through them you can see the glow, the specific color palette, and the personalities of the environment. You learn so much about the spaces through the visual vocabulary built upon by every corner, every window, and mark on a wall. My work has been decoding these narratives and spotlighting them to champion the mundane for all its worth.
Moving forward my practice is seeking out the threads that tie together the larger identities of the cityscape. These connectors bring together even the most surprising stories you would not connect at first glance. Once you find these ties there's only more to discover. What is the visual language of a corner store in London, versus Philly, versus Virginia, or even tokyo. These translate no matter where in the world you go but feel so different from each other.
Abbreviated Curriculum Vitae | updated November 2025
Full CV Available Upon Request
B. April 18 1995 Philadelphia
(215) 901-0666 [email protected] , http://www.nasiryoungart.com/
Represented by Gross Mccleaf Gallery , https://www.grossmccleaf.com
Education
2026 MFA, Candidate , University of Delaware, Newark,DE
2021 BFA, Pennsylvania Academy of The Fine Arts,Philadelphia, PA
2017 AFA, Montgomery County Community College,Bluebell, PA
Solo Exhibitions
2025 In Plain Sight ,GrossMccleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa
2024 Excursions, GrossMccleaf Gallery , Philadelphia, Pa
Juried/Group Exhibitions
2025 Made in Philly, Uffner&Liu gallery, lower east side,NYC
2025 Residue,MFA exhibition online, University of Montana https://mfaexhibitiononline.org/residue/
2025 Two Lights One City, Gross McCleaf Gallery x Stanek Gallery, Manayunk,PA
2025 Tiger Strikes Astroid charity auction, NYC Crit club, NYC
2025 Proof of Concept, Automat, Philadelphia,PA
2025 20x20 house gallery , 4 person exhibition, lansdowne,PA
2025 University of Delaware Perkins hall Exhibition,Newark,De
2025 Arch Enemy Arts 13th Anniversary exhibition,Arch Enemy Arts, Philadelphia,PA
2025 Outside, Fleisher Ollman Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa
2025 The Shipley school, Bryn Mawr, PA, curated by Adam Lovitz, and Julia Staples
2025 Murals Arts Black Fellowship cohort 2024, Ubuntu Gallery, Philadelphia , Pa, curated by Chelsey Luster
2025 inside out 2, Scroll NYC, Tribeca,NY
2024 Beyond Boundaries #8, Artsin Square online virtual exhibition https://artsinsquare.com/exhibition?ss_source=sscampaigns&ss_campaign_id=673113c2d3582173fb4026f8&ss_email_id=673122d187cd591fc065875d&ss_campaign_name=Congratulations+%F0%9F%92%A5&ss_campaign_sent_date=2024-11-10T21%3A17%3A17Z
2024 University of Delaware Wind Ensemble, Newark, DE
2024 NANO , Pillar Gallery Projects, Concord,NH, juried by Mike Howat
2024 Arc 2024 residency show , bieberham gallery,, Delaware contemporary Museum,, Wilmington,De
2024 Central Pennsylvania festival of the arts 2024, State College ,PA,
2024 Arch enemy art X eagles autism foundation art gala and charity auction, Arch Enemy Arts, Philadelphia,PA
2024 Emerging perspectives, Delpaline arts center, Frederick,MD
2024 Woodmere 82nd Juried Exhibition, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA
2024 Montco Art Alumni Exhibition, Montco Cultural Center Galleries, Bluebell, Pa
2024 residency show , hatch gallery, Delaware contemporary Museum, Wilmington,De
2023 Gift, GrossMccleaf Gallery , Philadelphia, Pa
2023 Corner Stories: : Davinci Art Alliance Curated by Nasir Young, Philadelphia, Pa
2023 Adidas Superstar Art show (philadelphia), Nocturnal skateshop, Philadelphia, Pa
2023 (summer exhibition) (online) https://www.ilikeyourworkpodcast.com/
2023 Free For All , Studio 1026, Philadelphia, Pa
2023 The 159th Exhibition of small oils, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia , Pa
2023 Short & Sweet III, GrossMccleaf Gallery , Philadelphia, Pa
2023 Observed, The plastic club, Philadelphia, Pa
2023 In Search Of Something More, Davinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, Pa
2023 Cumulative threads, Davinci Art Alliance Residency show, Philadelphia, Pa
2022 Collective Awareness, Davinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, Pa
2022 Printed Copy, Davinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, Pa
2022 The 158th Exhibition of small oils, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, Pa
2022 Residential Tourist, GrossMccleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa
2021 2021 Fellowship Annual, GrossMccleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa
2021 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Annual Student Exhibition 2021, Philadelphia, Pa
2020 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Annual Student Exhibition 2020, Philadelphia, Pa
AWARDS/HONORS/
2024 Belle Foundation individual grant
2024 The Tiny Online Poetry Magazine issue 13 cover art https://www.thetinymag.com/current-issue
2024 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts Images 2024 Best in Show
2024 Woodmere Museum , John Maxwell Prize for oil painting
2024 Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant
2022 Illuminate Arts Grant PHL
2022 Second place Philadelphia Sketch Club 158th exhibition of small oils
2021 Illuminate Arts Grant PHL
2021 Pafa Faculty Award, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2021 The Philadelphia Mayor's award, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Art
2021 The Catherine Grant Memorial Prize, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2021 The Louis & Estelle Pearson Memorial Prize for Landscape with Figures ,Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2020 The Raymond D. & Estelle Rubens Travel Scholarship, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2020 The Robert A. Ricker Memorial Landscape Prize, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
RESIDENCIES/ Fellowships
2025 Upland Residency ,Vermont
2024 Philadelphia Mural arts Black Fellowship 2024
2023 Delaware contemporary artist in residency, Wilmington, De
2023 Painting the Party, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa
2022 Davinci Art Alliance Residency, Philadelphia, Pa
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2025 Made in Philly Artist panel talk https://uffnerliu.com/news/213-artist-panel-discussion-made-in-philly-december-13-at-2pm/
2024 John Thorton PAFA Grad Nasir Young's First Solo Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRnZItAOQ7c 2024 EXCURSIONS AND OTHER JOURNEYS FOR PAFA ARTISTS Nasir Young and other PAFA graduates at Philly’s Gross McCleaf Gallery open up about the end of PAFA’s degree programs https://www.broadstreetreview.com/features/nasir-young-and-other-pafa-graduates-at-phillys-gross-mccleaf-gallery-open-up-about-the-end-of-pafas-degree-programs
2024 Art Sync: Chasing My Own Satisfaction https://viewingroom.grossmccleaf.com/viewing-room/art-sync-chasing-my-own-satisfaction#tab:slideshow
2023 ArtBlog: https://www.theartblog.org/2023/08/hunger-in-philadelphia-and-corner-stores-are-focus-at-da-vinci-art-alliances-corner-stories/
2023 The Flying Fruit Bowl, feature https://theflyingfruitbowl.co.uk/2023/06/17/nasir-young/
2021 Almost Looking in Reverse (Stories from PAFA) https://www.pafa.org/news/almost-looking-reverse-nasir-young-bfa-21-071321
2019 Loner “Are You Scared of Being Alone?”
2019 Loner, “Vol1”
Full CV Available Upon Request
B. April 18 1995 Philadelphia
(215) 901-0666 [email protected] , http://www.nasiryoungart.com/
Represented by Gross Mccleaf Gallery , https://www.grossmccleaf.com
Education
2026 MFA, Candidate , University of Delaware, Newark,DE
2021 BFA, Pennsylvania Academy of The Fine Arts,Philadelphia, PA
2017 AFA, Montgomery County Community College,Bluebell, PA
Solo Exhibitions
2025 In Plain Sight ,GrossMccleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa
2024 Excursions, GrossMccleaf Gallery , Philadelphia, Pa
Juried/Group Exhibitions
2025 Made in Philly, Uffner&Liu gallery, lower east side,NYC
2025 Residue,MFA exhibition online, University of Montana https://mfaexhibitiononline.org/residue/
2025 Two Lights One City, Gross McCleaf Gallery x Stanek Gallery, Manayunk,PA
2025 Tiger Strikes Astroid charity auction, NYC Crit club, NYC
2025 Proof of Concept, Automat, Philadelphia,PA
2025 20x20 house gallery , 4 person exhibition, lansdowne,PA
2025 University of Delaware Perkins hall Exhibition,Newark,De
2025 Arch Enemy Arts 13th Anniversary exhibition,Arch Enemy Arts, Philadelphia,PA
2025 Outside, Fleisher Ollman Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa
2025 The Shipley school, Bryn Mawr, PA, curated by Adam Lovitz, and Julia Staples
2025 Murals Arts Black Fellowship cohort 2024, Ubuntu Gallery, Philadelphia , Pa, curated by Chelsey Luster
2025 inside out 2, Scroll NYC, Tribeca,NY
2024 Beyond Boundaries #8, Artsin Square online virtual exhibition https://artsinsquare.com/exhibition?ss_source=sscampaigns&ss_campaign_id=673113c2d3582173fb4026f8&ss_email_id=673122d187cd591fc065875d&ss_campaign_name=Congratulations+%F0%9F%92%A5&ss_campaign_sent_date=2024-11-10T21%3A17%3A17Z
2024 University of Delaware Wind Ensemble, Newark, DE
2024 NANO , Pillar Gallery Projects, Concord,NH, juried by Mike Howat
2024 Arc 2024 residency show , bieberham gallery,, Delaware contemporary Museum,, Wilmington,De
2024 Central Pennsylvania festival of the arts 2024, State College ,PA,
2024 Arch enemy art X eagles autism foundation art gala and charity auction, Arch Enemy Arts, Philadelphia,PA
2024 Emerging perspectives, Delpaline arts center, Frederick,MD
2024 Woodmere 82nd Juried Exhibition, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA
2024 Montco Art Alumni Exhibition, Montco Cultural Center Galleries, Bluebell, Pa
2024 residency show , hatch gallery, Delaware contemporary Museum, Wilmington,De
2023 Gift, GrossMccleaf Gallery , Philadelphia, Pa
2023 Corner Stories: : Davinci Art Alliance Curated by Nasir Young, Philadelphia, Pa
2023 Adidas Superstar Art show (philadelphia), Nocturnal skateshop, Philadelphia, Pa
2023 (summer exhibition) (online) https://www.ilikeyourworkpodcast.com/
2023 Free For All , Studio 1026, Philadelphia, Pa
2023 The 159th Exhibition of small oils, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia , Pa
2023 Short & Sweet III, GrossMccleaf Gallery , Philadelphia, Pa
2023 Observed, The plastic club, Philadelphia, Pa
2023 In Search Of Something More, Davinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, Pa
2023 Cumulative threads, Davinci Art Alliance Residency show, Philadelphia, Pa
2022 Collective Awareness, Davinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, Pa
2022 Printed Copy, Davinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, Pa
2022 The 158th Exhibition of small oils, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, Pa
2022 Residential Tourist, GrossMccleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa
2021 2021 Fellowship Annual, GrossMccleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa
2021 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Annual Student Exhibition 2021, Philadelphia, Pa
2020 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Annual Student Exhibition 2020, Philadelphia, Pa
AWARDS/HONORS/
2024 Belle Foundation individual grant
2024 The Tiny Online Poetry Magazine issue 13 cover art https://www.thetinymag.com/current-issue
2024 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts Images 2024 Best in Show
2024 Woodmere Museum , John Maxwell Prize for oil painting
2024 Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant
2022 Illuminate Arts Grant PHL
2022 Second place Philadelphia Sketch Club 158th exhibition of small oils
2021 Illuminate Arts Grant PHL
2021 Pafa Faculty Award, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2021 The Philadelphia Mayor's award, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Art
2021 The Catherine Grant Memorial Prize, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2021 The Louis & Estelle Pearson Memorial Prize for Landscape with Figures ,Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2020 The Raymond D. & Estelle Rubens Travel Scholarship, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2020 The Robert A. Ricker Memorial Landscape Prize, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
RESIDENCIES/ Fellowships
2025 Upland Residency ,Vermont
2024 Philadelphia Mural arts Black Fellowship 2024
2023 Delaware contemporary artist in residency, Wilmington, De
2023 Painting the Party, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa
2022 Davinci Art Alliance Residency, Philadelphia, Pa
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2025 Made in Philly Artist panel talk https://uffnerliu.com/news/213-artist-panel-discussion-made-in-philly-december-13-at-2pm/
2024 John Thorton PAFA Grad Nasir Young's First Solo Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRnZItAOQ7c 2024 EXCURSIONS AND OTHER JOURNEYS FOR PAFA ARTISTS Nasir Young and other PAFA graduates at Philly’s Gross McCleaf Gallery open up about the end of PAFA’s degree programs https://www.broadstreetreview.com/features/nasir-young-and-other-pafa-graduates-at-phillys-gross-mccleaf-gallery-open-up-about-the-end-of-pafas-degree-programs
2024 Art Sync: Chasing My Own Satisfaction https://viewingroom.grossmccleaf.com/viewing-room/art-sync-chasing-my-own-satisfaction#tab:slideshow
2023 ArtBlog: https://www.theartblog.org/2023/08/hunger-in-philadelphia-and-corner-stores-are-focus-at-da-vinci-art-alliances-corner-stories/
2023 The Flying Fruit Bowl, feature https://theflyingfruitbowl.co.uk/2023/06/17/nasir-young/
2021 Almost Looking in Reverse (Stories from PAFA) https://www.pafa.org/news/almost-looking-reverse-nasir-young-bfa-21-071321
2019 Loner “Are You Scared of Being Alone?”
2019 Loner, “Vol1”