Carl Joe Williams facts for kids

Carl Joe Williams, born on July 30, 1970, in New Orleans, Louisiana, is an American artist. He is known for creating amazing visual art. Williams lives and works in his hometown of New Orleans.

Carl Joe Williams: An Artist's Journey

Carl Joe Williams is a talented artist who makes paintings and sculptures. He often uses everyday objects he finds to create his art. His work also includes ideas from pop culture and cool patterns found in nature.

Art That Tells a Story

Williams describes his artworks as "symphonies of colors." This means they are full of vibrant colors that create a powerful experience for anyone who sees them. He believes that art and music are connected. Because he is also a musician, he sometimes adds his own music to his videos and art installations.

Found objects are very important in Williams's art. He uses them to tell stories about society and history. For example, he once saw an old chair in his bathroom and imagined it as a piece of African sculpture. This shows how he sees art in unexpected places.

Public Art and Installations

Carl Joe Williams has created several large art projects for public spaces. In 2002, his art installation called Journeys was shown at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia.

He also created a public art installation in Metairie, Louisiana, called Sculptural Trees. These art pieces were described as looking like "lollipops in a Candyland forest." They had special light boxes attached to crepe myrtle trees, making them glow.

Community and Collaboration

Williams is one of the people who started Blights Out. This is a project in New Orleans that helps communities get involved in developing their neighborhoods. It's a team effort led by artists and community members. Blights Out began as part of Prospect New Orleans, which is a big art show that happens every two years.

He is also a founding member of the Level Artist Collective. This group includes other artists like Ana Hernandez, Horton Humble, Rontherin Ratliff, and John Isiah Walton. Working together helps artists share ideas and create even more amazing art.

Education and Exhibitions

Carl Joe Williams studied art at the New Orleans Center for Creative Art (NOCCA). After that, he went to the Atlanta College of Art and earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

His art has been shown in many places across the United States. Some of these include:

• The George Ohr-O'Keefe Museum Of Art in Biloxi, Mississippi.
• Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.
• The New Orleans Museum of Art.
• The McKenna Museum of African American Art.
• Hammonds House Galleries in Atlanta, Georgia.

He also has permanent public art installations in Atlanta. These include works at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market (which was part of the 1996 Summer Olympics) and at the Washington Park Tennis Center. In 2013, Williams received a special award from the Joan Mitchell Center, allowing him to be an artist-in-residence in New Orleans. His work is also part of the collection at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

See also

• painting
• Atlanta Airport
• New Orleans
• Contemporary Arts Center (New Orleans)