Folayemi Wilson facts for kids

Folayemi "Fo" Debra Wilson is an American artist, designer, and school leader. She works in many creative fields. Her work includes designing furniture, creating art installations, painting murals, and making graphic designs. Wilson is the first associate dean for access and equity at the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture. This means she helps make sure everyone has a fair chance to succeed there.

Her Early Life and Studies

Folayemi Wilson studied business at New York University Stern School of Business. She earned an MBA degree there. Later, she went to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). In 2005, she earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in furniture design from RISD.

Designing Cool Stuff

Early in her career, Fo Wilson worked in graphic design. She was an art director and creative director. She worked for popular magazines like Essence and YSB. In 1984, she became the first female art director at Essence magazine.

In 1991, Wilson started her own graphic design company called Studio W.. She used her experience from the magazine world to build her business.

blkHaUS Studios

In August 2016, Fo Wilson teamed up with Norman Teague. They started a design studio in Chicago called blkHaUS Studios. Their work focused on "social practice." This means they created designs to make public spaces in Chicago more welcoming.

One of their projects was called Back Alley Jazz. It aimed to bring back the jazz culture of Chicago from the 1960s and 1970s. They brought together local musicians, architects, and artists. Together, they created events and performance spaces for jazz music.

Art That Tells Stories

In 1995, Fo Wilson, Renee Cox, and Tony Cokes formed the Negro Art Collective (NAC). They created this group to fight against wrong ideas about Black Americans in art and culture.

In 2008, Wilson created a special art show. It looked like a 19th-century science exhibit. This art piece remembered Sartje Baartman, who was also known as "The Hottentot Venus." Wilson's art challenged how people were shown in the past.

Eliza's Peculiar Cabinet of Curiosities

Her 2016 art piece, Eliza's Peculiar Cabinet of Curiosities, was very unique. It was a full-sized, fictional slave cabin from the 1800s. Inside, there was a "cabinet of curiosities." This cabinet held about 100 items. These items were things an African American woman from that time might have owned or dreamed of owning.

Eliza's Peculiar Cabinet of Curiosities was an ongoing project. It was part of a style called Afrofuturism. This style combines African culture with science fiction and fantasy. The cabin was used for related events and performances. It was shown from 2016 to 2017 at the Lynden Sculpture Garden in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In 2019, Fo Wilson was asked to create public art for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). Her art is now in the new Damen Green Line train station. Her work is also part of the museum collection at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Wilson has also served on the board of the American Craft Council (ACC).

Helping Students Succeed

In July 2021, Wilson became the first associate dean for access and equity at the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture. Before this, she helped lead academic diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Columbia College Chicago. In these roles, she works to make sure all students have equal opportunities and feel included.

See also

• Cheryl D. Miller
• List of African-American visual artists