Edreys Wajed

Works
Biography
Edreys Wajed

An award-winning and nationally recognized multi-disciplined creative with well-recognized notoriety as a visual artist, jewelry designer, video director and playwright.. Edreys Wajed is a professional with extensive experience in education, management, product development and the arts, with an understanding of project management, sales, merchandising and marketing. Equipped with the skills necessary to manage people, build teams, work closely with clients, and the ability to strategically assess goals and outcomes as they relate to the processes involved in initiating, supervising and completing projects.

A catalyst of inspiration, Edreys is a walking enterprise of all things creative. The Buffalo native boasts a toolbox chock-full with talents and experiences ranging from a visual artist, jewelry designer and musical entertainer, to an educator and entrepreneur with notable recognitions respectfully in each. His approach in each endeavor is soundly unique, high quality and signature in presentation, having found his course as a creator early in life.

As early as 14 years of age, when his mother invested in a pair of hair clippers for him, seeing as she could no longer afford to pay for his haircuts, Edreys taught himself the trade of barbering and soon began making money for himself in the basement of his childhood home. With his artistic ability he also began growing a client base and reputation for customized hats and clothes as well as logo design by hand, long before learning graphics in college. His creativity, craftsmanship and passion to inspire people are what drives his spirit of entrepreneurship.

From touring nationally and internationally as a hip hop artist, to writing a play based off his poetry; Edreys is exceptionally diverse with his avenues of expression, including the fine craft of jewelry making, passed down from his father and master craftsman. Edreys is most recently recognized locally for his contribution as an artist on the Freedom Wall which features 28 civil rights dignitaries, seven of whom he painted with his unique style and use of line.

“Creativity is my neighbor, I live by it,” says Edreys.

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Albright Knox Art Gallery - Life Member

Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center - Member
Buffalo Society of Artists - Member

Western New York Book Arts Center - Member (past Bd Member)

 

 

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Solo Exhibits

  • ●  Wish you were here – Buffalo Arts Studio – 7/24/2020-9/4/2020

  • ●  PLAYLIST – Flight Gallery (Buffalo, NY) – 12/2019

  • ●  Private Showing – Garret Club (Buffalo, NY) – 11/2019

  • ●  Check Out My Melody –Argus Gallery (Buffalo, NY) 6/2019

  • ●  Tri-Mania – The Brew Room (Buffalo, NY) 4/2018

  • ●  White Lines Matter – Western New York Book Arts Center (Buffalo, NY) 2/2017

  • ●  One Who Masters the Pen – Gallery 51 (Buffalo, NY)– 2006

Collections

  • ●  Albright Knox Art Gallery

  • ●  Burchfield Penney Arts Center

  • ●  M&T Bank, Headquarters Buffalo, NY

  • ●  Roswell Park Hospital (Art Heals Gallery)

Curatorial

  • ●  “In These Truths” - Albright Knox at Northland - February 2022-June 2022

  • ●  #Hampered – a Quarantined Virtual Installation – March-April 2020

Installations

  • ●  Optimistic | Indoor Mural - Buffalo Prep, University of Buffalo Campus 2021

  • ●  John Lewis | Public Art - Fillmore District of Buffalo New York. 385 Paderewski Drive. 2021

  • ●  Grover Washington Jr. | Public Art - M&T Bank Branch located at Bailey Ave and Davidson 2020

  • ●  Love Black | Public Art - Albright Knox Art Gallery Public Works (612 Main Street) 2020

  • ●  Check out my Melody Installation – “Do I Do”, 1120 Projects 2020

  • ●  Check out my Melody Installation – “Time Travelin'”, 1120 Projects 2020

  • ●  Peace Please Project | Projection Installation – in collaboration with Projex, Peace Bridge 2020

  • ●  Black Lives Mattter | Projection Installation – in collaboration with Projex, W.Utica@Elmwood 2020

  • ●  Canisius College Sesquicentennial | Mural – Old Main Building – January 2020

  • ●  Niagara Street Tesla Mural | Public Art – (Pineapple Co.) Hired Artist – National Grid Building 2019

  • ●  John ‘Spider’ Martin | Public Art – Niagara Falls National Heritage Area Mural Project 2019

  • ●  Love Wins | Projection Installation – in collaboration with Projex, Silo City 2019

  • ●  Silo Summer Readings Installation – Just Literary Buffalo, Live painting; Silo City

  • ●  Beacons Installation – Digital Portraits, Niagara Falls Underground Railroad museum

  • ●  Beverly Gray – Portrait Installation; Beverly Gray Business Exchange Center

  • ●  Freedom Wall | Public Art – Albright Knox Art Gallery Public Works (Corner of Michigan Ave Avenue and Ferry Street, Buffalo, New York) 2017

  • ●  The Protector of Dreams | Public Art – Collaboration with Team Razor Wire for Bailey fights blight. Two murals were installed at the corners of Bailey Avenue and East Amherst Street. Buffalo, New York 2017

  • ●  Where Opportunity Meets Skill | Mural– Upton Hall Buffalo State College. Sponsored by the Dr. Margaret E. Bacon Visiting Visual Artists Series Fund. Buffalo, New York 2017

  • Commissions

  • ●  Good Times - M&T Bank 2020 Annual Report Cover Design, 2021

  • ●  Buffalo Sabres - Black History Month T-Shirt Design 2021

  • ●  “Home Sweet Home” painting for Acropolis Restaurant, Buffalo, NY December 2019

  • ●  MIRABO Press Limited Art Collectors Print Series – November-December 2019

  • ●  Empress Amina – Afro-Futurism portrait November 2019

  • ●  Goodness Gracious, Cover Art – Poetry Chapbook by Nicholas Molbert Foundlings Press

  • ●  Ode to Joy – Tipico & Buffalo String Works Benefit Poster 2019

  • ●  Lil’ Melonae, John Coltrane digital portrait for promotional web, mailing and poster – The Burchfield Penney Art Center and Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Concert Series 2019

  • ●  Pappy Martin Portrait Commemorative Art – for promotion online, mailing, banners, tees, etc. – Pappy Martin Legacy Masten Jazz Festival 2019

  • Group Shows

  • ●  Buffalo Society of Artists 125th Catalogue Exhibit, Castellani Art Museum 2021

  • ●  Buffalo Society of Artists Spring Exhibition, Artists Group Gallery 2021 (Honorable Mention)

  • ●  Mid-Summer Drawing Rally (Virtual) – Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center July 2020

  • ●  Mid-Winter Drawing Rally – Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center February 2020

  • ●  Buffalo Arts Studio Members Show – November 2019

  • ●  Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center Members Show – July 2019

  • ●  Mid-Summer Drawing Rally – Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center July 2019

  • ●  Contemporary Portraiture – Burchfield Penney Arts Center March 2019

  • ●  Buffalo Arts Studio Members Show – November 2018

  • ●  Mid-Winter Drawing Rally 2018 – Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center 2018

  • ●  Mid-Summer Drawing Rally 2018 – Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center 2018

  • ●  WNY Urban Arts Collective 2018 Annual Exhibit – Main Street Gallery – March 2018

  • ●  Merging Mediums (ASI-Art Services Initiative of WNY) – Main Street Gallery – March 2018

  • ●  Buffalo State Alumni Artists – Works from Gerald Mead Collection – February 2018

  • ●  Beyond the Wall (Resource:Art) – The Buffalo Center for Arts & Technology – November 2017

  • ●  Sugatory Sweetening our Existence – ArtReach of WNY November 2017

Performances

  • ●  Burchfield Penney Live Painting M&T 2nd Friday – July 10, 2020

  • ●  “Not for Sale” – Performance, Poetry, Videography by Edreys | Viral Post, June 2020

  • ●  WEEKLY Quarantine LIVE Painting Happy Hour – March, April, May, June 2020

Literary Works

  • ●  Buffalo by Bike – Narrator & Co-writer; GoBike | Reddy Bike 2019

  • ●  The Sidewalk Stageplay – Creator, Producer, Co-writer & Actor; Paul Robeson Theater 2019

  • ●  Acapella Poetry Book – Poet Self-Published Available on Amazon.com 2018

Speaking Engagements/Interviews

  • ●  Highlighted for the Arts in the Empire State Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Observance - 2021 https://youtu.be/R3k-CR3lfvQ.

  • ●  Several Speaking Engagements, Interviews and more for his Inspiring and Prolific Work.

Other Accomplishments

2020: UB MFA class of 2022 – Schomburg Fellow
2020: Nominated Artist of the Year award for ASI of WNY Spark Awards

 

ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCE

Wajed, LLC dba Eat off Art 2018 - Present
A house under which all the creativity of the Wajed Legacy lives: Visual Arts, Graphic Design, Mural Arts, Culinary Arts, Jewelry Design.

 

The Art of Hip Hop, Inc., Buffalo, NY August 2004 - 2009
Started in 2004 in collaboration with the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. The Art of Hip Hop coordinated a free, family festival for several years that educated and entertained a very diverse range of patrons, attracting more than 4000 throughout its servicing years.

 

Be a Star Program (Educational Component of Art of Hip Hop, Inc.)
An in-school program designed and focused around the personal and professional development of young men and women at the commencement level of education. This program enables Students to critically approach the discovery and utilization of their natural talents, attributes and abilities. Each year culminating with a free family celebration, featuring local performers, artists and DJ’s.

 

Gallery 51, Buffalo, NY May 2005 - January 2008
A Minority Owned and Operated Art Gallery and Boutique. Specializing in custom stationery, social and wedding invitations, specialty gifts and exhibiting original artwork.

Started Emani Kemet, Inc. in 1999 as a greeting card and stationery manufacturing company and later transformed the business into a “brick and mortar” operation with more than 1200 square feet of retail space in the historic Elmwood Village.

 

EDUCATION FIELD EXPERIENCE

  • Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology

  • Say Yes Buffalo

  • Tapestry Charter High School

  • Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo NY

  • Visual Art Teacher
  • Visual Art Teacher
  • Assistant for Community Programs