Wilmer Wilson IV facts for kids

Wilmer Wilson IV (born 1989) is an American artist. He lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wilson is known for his unique art, which includes performance art, photography, and sculpture.

Early Life and Education

Wilmer Wilson IV was born in Richmond, Virginia. He studied photography at Howard University, earning his first degree in 2012. Later, he continued his art education at the University of Pennsylvania. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree in 2015.

Artworks and Recognition

Wilmer Wilson IV's art has been shown in many places. His work has been displayed in galleries, art fairs, and museums across the U.S. and Europe. He has received special awards for his art. These include fellowships from the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage and the American Academy in Rome.

His art has also been featured in major museums. Some of these include The New Museum in New York and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. His work is part of the permanent collections of several museums. This means they own his art to keep and show forever.

What Critics Say

Art critics and newspapers have written about Wilmer Wilson IV's work. The New York Times described his art as "gorgeous." The Chicago Tribune called him an artist who focuses on "ephemera and race." Ephemera means things that last for only a short time.

Critics often note how Wilson explores ideas about identity. He looks at how Black people are shown in cities. He also explores how they are sometimes seen as objects of work or desire.

Exhibitions and Performances

Wilmer Wilson IV started showing his art in the Washington, D.C. area. He gained early attention during his time at Strathmore Hall in 2011. There, he was guided by artist Tim Tate.

Notable Performances

One of his famous performances is Henry "Box" Brown: FOREVER (2012). For this, Wilson covered his body with U.S. postage stamps. He then walked to post offices and asked to be mailed. This performance honored Henry Box Brown, a man who mailed himself to freedom from slavery.

In another performance, Portrait with Hydrogen Peroxide Strips (2015), Wilson stood in the National Portrait Gallery. He covered his body with teeth-whitening strips. He often creates "skins" using many small, repeated items.

Public Art and Books

In 2019, Wilson started using billboards in his hometown of Richmond. He used them to show texts and images. His goal was to start discussions about protests against police brutality.

Between 2013 and 2020, Wilson created a series of artist books. These books featured blurred photographs. He took these photos while running through different cities. The series is called A Running Tour of Some Monuments of. It includes books for cities like Barcelona, London, and Philadelphia.

Wilmer Wilson IV's art is represented by Susan Inglett Gallery in New York and CONNERSMITH in Washington, D.C.