about
I started showing works by local artists in February 2017 in an old, brutalist building in Bethesda, MD. The building was literally falling apart, so rent was relatively low. I called the space WAS gallery. We had 14 well-received shows in two years. In September 2019, I left the building - due to imminent plans to demolish it - and in January 2021, re-located to Tenleytown, Washington, DC, where I co-existed for 3 shows with a frame shop. I also changed the name of my space to Formerly Was. I have since moved again (Previously, Formerly WAS?) and now organize pop up exhibitions in different spaces around the city twice a year featuring artwork by emerging and mid career artists - local and regional - in a range of media that includes primarily painting, drawing, collage, and photography. My goal is to make space for art in Washington, DC and to show as many artists as I can.
advisory
Joumana Moukarim is an artist, curator, art consultant, and collector. Besides making her own work, Joumana engages in creative projects that connect friends, old and new, with emerging and mid-career artists in the Washington, DC area and beyond. Since she started showing art in 2017, Joumana has helped place artwork in both private and public collections. Joumana is invested in long-term, creative relationships with both artist and collector. A native of Lebanon, Joumana holds an MFA in Studio Art from American University in Washington, DC and a BA in Business Administration from Richmond College in Surrey, England. Joumana lives and works in Washington, DC.