Resident Curator

Omari Booker is a visual artist based in Los Angeles, CA, and Nashville, TN. While oil painting is his primary medium, Omari also incorporates mixed media—such as charcoal, ink, and found objects—into his work, using these elements to create dynamic, finished pieces.

As the inaugural Resident Curator for the 30th Annual Exhibition of Artists in Michigan Prisons, Omari played a vital role in curating the exhibition. His responsibilities included selecting artwork, engaging with artists, designing gallery layouts, and sharing his expertise with University of Michigan students, faculty, and community members. Omari observed that the works of PCAP artists powerfully reflected themes central to his own creative philosophy, including connection, peace, gratitude, and consistency.

The images, stories, and conversations of PCAP artists inspired Omari’s unique curation of his own work, which is displayed alongside PCAP’s pieces in the Duderstadt Gallery. 

Omari approaches his art with a process-oriented mindset, viewing it as a form of therapy that allows him to explore freedom and independence through creativity. His art serves as his personal therapeutic practice, and he hopes that viewers experience their own moments of catharsis when engaging with his work.