Today we’d like to introduce you to Willis Wright.
Hi Willis, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My brother is the reason I started art, he was an exceptional artist and as a child I didn’t really understand art I just saw him putting lines together and figured if he could do it I could too if I just imitated what he was doing. Long story short that didn’t work and this began my stubborn journey of trying to understand why I couldn’t do what he made look so simple. Over time art became my safe space for depression, anxiety and the lack of purpose I felt over the years. Within the last 5 years what was an artistic outlet became a way for me to give back. Recreating women that have been through forms of trauma and painting them as heroes and creating characters that young African American children can gain confidence from.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road hasn’t always been smooth but the challenges make the journey, depression lead me to dark places mentally, struggles with homeless and my brother having cancer and watching him transition from a strong man to someone on bed rest and reaching the end of this stage of life. Lately I have been asking myself if I’ve done enough, if I’ve given back more than I’ve taken from the world?
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an acrylic painter and a tattoo artist. I specialize in comic/neotradtional based work and I’m know for my Afrocentric art work with bright colors and messages within the pieces that speak to black culture and history.
One think I am most proud of is I will be doing my first solo show this year that I am putting together myself and I will be doing many more in the future
The major thing that sets me apart is my creativity, my mind is full of ideas and ways to push the envelope and sometimes I just can’t get to them all
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
The most important piece of advice I can give anyone may be overused in society but rings true…BE YOURSELF!!!!
As simple as it sounds originality really is cherished in a world where imitation is influenced.
I wish I knew that are could be a career when I was a kid. I wish I wouldn’t know his little support I would get from the people closest to be and how much support I would get from people that didn’t know anything about me they must b appreciated my art
Contact Info:
- Website: https://AfrocentricArtSpace.info
- Instagram: Afrocentric_art_space
- Youtube: Artanomaly
