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Edreys Wajed

American, born 1974

Photo: Yves-Richard Blanc

Edreys Wajed is celebrated for his work as a musician, poet, playwright, jewelry designer, graphic designer, educator, entrepreneur, and muralist (including as a contributor to Albright-Knox Public Art Initiative projects The Freedom Wall, 2017, and Love Black, 2020). Wajed co-curated with Aitina Fareed-Cooke the exhibition In These Truths (February 19, 2022–June 5, 2022) at Albright-Knox Northland, an exhibition of works by Black cultural producers, in collaboration with Curator of Public Art at Buffalo AKG, Aaron Ott. After establishing himself as a self-trained barber as a teenager, Wajed built his early reputation on customized hats, clothes, and hand-designed logos, all before formally studying graphic design in college. His creativity, craftsmanship, and passion to inspire people are central to his spirit of entrepreneurship.

Most recently, Wajed has developed a new artistic presence and voice in the form of musically inspired paintings, suffused with unique mark-making and rhythmic movement. Examples of these works are in the collections of the Burchfield Penney Art Center and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Edreys, a 2024 NYSCA funding recipient, has contributed to many successful collaborative projects with the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, Erie County Office of Mental Health and a variety of prominent public and private entities as well. He and his wife Alexa are Co-Founders of Eat Off Art, a creative consulting and arts-based company, specializing in curating transformative experiences and building empathetic communities.

Wajed holds a MFA (’22) from the University at Buffalo as a Schomberg Fellowship Program Scholar.

 
Last updated 2024