About Me

I believe art is empowering.

I believe in action towards social reconstruction.

A world of self-examination leads to self–improvement and empowerment.

I want all of us to be more conscious of social manipulation and its long-term effects.

I create artwork that brings this consciousness to the forefront so people can be intentional when responding to what we experience in the world.

My artwork is based on intersectional feminist ideas regarding gender and identity politics because self-examination leads to self-improvement and empowerment.

Photo by So-Min Kang Photography

My name is Carol-Anne McFarlane (she/her) and I am a visual artist. I am an unapologetic visual voyager. I navigate worlds. I challenge and support others to become aware of their social conditioning that we all have been exposed to; and, I spark dialogue through which individuals can begin to find their own answers.

Here is what I want for all of us:

To feel confident in your abilities to stand up for yourself
To have the information to defend what you know is true and right
To feel empowered to take on challenges by using education
To be educated in current social structures and know we can challenge and reconstruct them
To know that there are others that feel the same way and have had similar experiences

People who engage with my work increase their critical thinking skills and can communicate better in spite of the sociopolitical conditioning that we have absorbed.

My collectors collect my work to solidify their connection to their experience and worldview. They are committed to and practice social reconstruction. My collectors want to look at the world in a new way and that leads to living a more informed and empowered life.

Some of my influences include:

Mrs. Jan Leykauf, my middle school ceramics teacher at Parkway Middle School. She participated in the after school program and I was able to continue my work after school, instilling dedication into my practice.

Ms. Laurie Maurino, my high school art teacher. She said, “If you can draw the human body, you can draw anything.” She lead my first life drawing sessions and provided feedback that I still use today. She is the reason why I still draw from a live model all these years later.

Robert Stewart, my Photography professor. He pulled me aside one day to tell me he recognized my duality. I see it show up all the time now. We collaborated on a series of photographs after I graduated college.

Dr. Diana McClintock, one of my Art History professors. She had us travel to hear lectures and see current exhibitions and tied it back to what we were discussing in the classroom. I continue to go to talks and lectures. Who knew back then that she exposed me to what I would recognize as one of my strengths as identified by the book, Strength Finders 2.0?

Story time:

I have always been into art. I have early memories of showing my work and being recognized for my talents. In kindergarten, one of my drawings was handpicked for displayed at the Broward County Fair. It was exciting for the whole family to visit the fair just to see my work!

I continued making art. My middle school was a Magnet school for Performing and Visual Arts. One of my pieces won the Scholastic Art Award and traveled to New York to be on display for the public. Out of 300 entries, mine was chosen. Imagine that, my work traveled to New York before I did!

I decided to bring my Barbies to school one day in elementary school. One of the few white people in the school was in my class. She was my friend. When I played with my dolls, she wanted my white doll to play with. I told her it was mine. She told me that I should only play with dolls that look like me.

Fast-forward ten years; I get my first job in a toy store in a mall. I worked in a toy store at the mall in two states. More than once, I observed a white mother softly suggest to her daughter to choose the white doll, because “her hair is brighter.”

These experiences are related.

Here’s what I learned:

I learned that art could be a catalyst for change. It made my family visit the county fair for the first time and sparked a tradition that lasted several years.
The art I make stands out. It has garnered recognition repeatedly. It connects to the viewer and encourages sharing.
I can pair my experiences with social critique to share my vision in challenging and reconstructing current social structures.

Since then I’ve done this:

Shown my work in Art Fairs in Miami and New York
Shown internationally in the United Kingdom and Jamaica
Participated in Museum shows in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Des Plaines
Spoken about my work and experience on panels in Miami and New York
Invited as a contributing artist on ArtGirlTV via SnapChat
Participated in the Resident Artist program at the Lauderhill Arts Center
Gave artist talks in Kansas City, North Miami, Pompano, and Quebec City
Traveled to Belize, Guadeloupe, and Panama with Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator as a Cultural Ambassador
Spoke about art and NFTs at the Art & Equity Summit in Spring 2021

You are already here. Let’s stay connected. Here’s how:

Collectors, curators, and art lovers of all kinds have signed up for my emails. In my emails, I share sneak peeks of up coming projects, books and ideas I am investigating, info on upcoming shows and projects, and occasionally offer up pieces for acquisition.

You can join them.

Check out my artwork.

Head over here for videos where I discuss different works. There are interviews and panel discussions there too!

Insights into my art practice including my personal experiences and influences are discussed in my blog.

Resources that I used in my practice are right here in my Asset Library.

You can also acquire artwork.

Do you have or know about an exhibition, collection, or panel that I should be a part of? I welcome invitation. Email me. Let’s discuss!