Wilmer Wilson IV facts for kids

Wilmer Wilson IV, born in 1989, is an American artist. He lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wilmer creates art using many different methods. He is known for his performance art, but he also makes sculptures and takes photographs.

Wilmer's Early Life and School

Wilmer Wilson IV was born in Richmond, Virginia. He went to Howard University and earned a degree in Photography in 2012. Later, in 2015, he continued his studies at the University of Pennsylvania. There, he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree.

Awards and Art Shows

Wilmer Wilson IV's art has been shown in many places. You can find his work in galleries, art fairs, and museums across the U.S. and Europe. He has received special awards like a fellowship from the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. He also got a fellowship from the American Academy in Rome.

Wilmer has also been asked to create art for public spaces and museums. Some of these include the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and Films4Peace. His performances and artworks have been shown at famous places. These include The New Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. His art is also part of the permanent collections in several museums. These include the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

What People Say About Wilmer's Art

Many newspapers and art magazines in America and Europe have written about Wilmer Wilson IV. In 2018, a famous art critic named Holland Cotter called Wilmer's work "gorgeous" in The New York Times. The Chicago Tribune described him as an artist who focuses on materials and performance. They noted his interest in things that don't last long and in race.

In 2015, an essay by Hannah McShea said that Wilmer's performances are "ahead of his time." The New York Times also wrote in 2018 that Wilmer's art explores how Black people are shown in cities. He looks at how Black bodies are sometimes seen as objects for work or desire. He also explores the constant threat of violence.

Art Shows and Performances

Wilmer Wilson IV's first art shows were around Washington, D.C.. He gained attention during his time at Strathmore Hall in Bethesda, MD in 2011. There, he was guided by the well-known artist Tim Tate. An art critic, Claudia Rousseau, wrote that this college student was "one to watch."

Notable Performances

• Henry "Box" Brown: FOREVER (2012): This was a series of three public performances in Washington, D.C. Wilmer covered his body with U.S. postage stamps. He then walked to post offices and asked to be mailed. This performance was inspired by the story of Henry Box Brown.
• Portrait with Hydrogen Peroxide Strips (2015): For this performance, Wilmer stood in the National Portrait Gallery. He covered his bare body with teeth-whitening hydrogen peroxide strips. This showed his interest in creating "skins" from many repeated materials and symbols.

Billboards and Books

In 2019, Wilmer started using billboards in his hometown of Richmond. He wanted to change how billboards are usually used for advertising. Instead, he displayed texts and images to start discussions. These discussions were about protests against police brutality and other local activism in Richmond.

Between 2013 and 2020, Wilmer created a series of artist books. These books featured blurred photographs he took while running through different cities. The series was called A Running Tour of Some Monuments of. It included books for Barcelona, Brussels, London, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Rome.

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