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 and art collector. Besides making her own work, Joumana engages in projects that connect friends, old and new, with emerging and mid-career artists in the Washington, DC area. 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.