ARTIST STATEMENT
I’m drawn to the gap between what we experience and how we understand it. My creative and intellectual interests are grounded in cognitive psychology and mindfulness — how perception is shaped not just by what we see, but by how we think, what we value, and the stories we tell ourselves. I’m fascinated by the idea that reality isn’t fixed but actively constructed: the same event can be tragic, absurd, or joyful depending on the frame.
I love art not only because it can help us explain ourselves, but even more when it deepens our curiosity about how strange we really are. I see painting as a space to test and complicate assumptions — about humanity, identity, and what it means to make sense. My work doesn’t aim to resolve ambiguity or prescribe behavior; instead, I want it to hold space for freedom — to invite wonder and reflection without insisting on clarity.
In a time when societal norms are increasingly questioned, and identity is constantly negotiated, my work reflects an urgency to embrace multiplicity and reject rigid definitions. I aim to carve out space for levity, resilience, and self-definition in the face of unpredictability.
Cameron Meade earned his MFA in Painting from Pratt Institute in 2018, after completing a B.A. in Psychology and a B.S. in Physics from Stanford University in 2013. He briefly worked in computational biology before redirecting his focus to art. In 2025, his work was included in '40 Under 40,' a show juried by Jennie Goldstein, an Associate Curator of the Collection at the Whitney Museum of American Art. His work has also been included in group exhibitions curated by Dexter Wimberly, Carmen Hermo, and Jesse Firestone and featured in 'Visual Art Journal.' In 2019, he was a finalist for the William & Dorothy Yeck Young Painters Competition, juried by Barry Schwabsky, and was featured as a Rising Artist by WNET (PBS)’s ALL ARTS. He has attended residencies at Trestle, Vermont Studio Center, the Millay Colony, VCCA, Monson Arts, MASS MoCA, the Studios of Key West, and Kunstraum.
For the past 17 years, Cameron has worked for Starting Right, Now (SRN), a Tampa-based nonprofit founded by his mother, Vicki Sokolik. SRN serves homeless youth, removing barriers for them to cultivate long-term well-being and self-sufficiency. The organization is resolving structural inequities. Cameron’s art practice (and life) is inspired by this work, through which he has cultivated a large unconventional family and realized the immense value in intimate connections. Cameron was a collaborating writer on Vicki’s debut memoir, 'If You See Them: Young, Unhoused, and Alone in America,' about the systemic injustices that perpetuate generational poverty and homelessness, published in 2024. Yes, he wrote a book with his mom. Cameron lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.
