Crossings Gallery
I AM
artist: Miles Perry
What truly defines a person beyond labels and headlines? I AM is a bold mixed-media exhibition by Boston-based artist Miles Perry that transforms everyday neighbors into powerful works of art. Blending painting, photography, video, audio, and upcycled materials, Perry creates layered portraits of people connected to Boston, Allston, and Cambridge. Influenced by his Cape Verdean roots, global travels, and a “Versalism” style shaped by jazz and hip-hop, his work pulses with color, rhythm, and movement. I AM spotlights BIPOC individuals whose lives, passions, and presence shape our city. The exhibition offers an immersive, heart-centered experience that invites visitors to slow down, listen, and recognize the originality and worth in themselves and those around them.
Miles Perry is a Cambridge-based mixed media artist.
Artist Statement
My work explores identity, culture, and the shared human experience through painting, photography, and visual storytelling. I am interested in the moments that connect us across different backgrounds and experiences, using portraiture and narrative imagery to honor the individuality, resilience, and humanity of the people and communities I photograph and paint.
Jazz has become an important framework for my creative process—not simply as music, but as a way of working. Like improvisation, each project evolves through observation, intuition, and collaboration, allowing unexpected connections to emerge. Combined with the influence of hip-hop, basketball, and everyday urban life, this process encourages me to create work that feels alive, responsive, and deeply personal.
At the heart of my practice is the belief that every person is a work of art. Whether creating portraits, films, or community-based projects, I hope my work encourages viewers to see themselves and others with greater curiosity, empathy, and appreciation. Art has the power to build relationships, preserve stories, and create spaces where people feel seen, and that possibility continues to guide everything I make.
Artist Biography
Miles Perry is a Boston-based visual artist, photographer, and creative director whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, photography, film, and community-centered storytelling. A featured artist for Mayor Michelle Wu's inaugural celebration, he has collaborated with organizations and communities across Boston to create work that celebrates representation, culture, and place.
Of Cape Verdean heritage, Miles has lived in more than 30 places, including New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Cape Cod, Portland (Maine), and Boston, while traveling extensively throughout Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. These experiences have shaped a creative perspective that embraces cultural exchange, adaptability, and connection. Influenced by artists across disciplines, as well as the improvisational spirit of jazz and the energy of hip-hop, Miles has developed a distinctive visual language he calls "Versalism." Named in part for the legendary Miles Davis, the approach reflects his belief that creativity thrives through openness, experimentation, and originality.
About Crossings Gallery
The Crossings Gallery showcases work by contemporary Allston-Brighton, Harvard, and Boston artists, complemented by artist talks, panel discussions, and interactive workshops. Open during Harvard Ed Portal hours, the gallery also features street-facing exhibitions for public viewing anytime.
Previous Exhibitions:
Seeds of Home by Tashi Haig
Teen Art Program
2026 Harvard Staff Art Show
Rethreaded: Transforming Cloth by Maria Cuneo
Plankton Paintings: Footprints of the Invisible by Jess Holz
Reaching through Fog: Opaque Paintings by Yi Cynthia Chen
Familiar Faces| Living Spaces by Hugo Nakashima-Brown