‘Red Spirit Light,’ which is made of plastic bottles, galvanized steel and cellophane, hangs in the Alexander and Bonin art gallery in New York City. Photo courtesy of Willie Cole/Alexander and Bonin
New Jersey artist Willie Cole transforms conventional items into unexpected designs. He has been routinely acknowledged for honoring African American culture in his work, as well as addressing the themes of spirituality, history and the environment. Currently living in Mine Hill, Cole has lived in the Garden State his entire life; he was born in Somerville and grew up in Newark.
“My art is influenced by my memories and experiences. Life itself creates strong memories no matter what the state,” Cole said. “My experience as a child with the Newark Museum, and Arts High School, the presence of great artists, musicians and writers, like Amiri Baraka and Ben Jones, gave me a glimpse of possibilities of a life dedicated to creative self-production.”
Cole is most widely recognized for his innovative sculptures comprising commonplace household objects such as water bottles, bicycles, wooden matches and steam irons. He assembles many of the same types of items into a larger installation in the shape of something different. For example, his 2009 sculpture “Anne Klein with A Baby in Transit” showcased a mother and child made out of high-heeled shoes. With his work, Cole strives to transform how people see the world. The sculptures challenge people to rethink about the purpose of everyday objects and our connection to them.
“My work is primarily about perception,” Cole explained. “It’s more about an action than a message.”
Currently living in Mine Hill, Willie Cole has lived in the Garden State his entire life; he was born in Somerville and grew up in Newark. Photo courtesy of Willie Cole
Since Cole first achieved notoriety in 1989, his work has been featured in many solo museum exhibitions, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, the Pérez Art Museum Miami, the Tampa Museum of Art, the University of Wyoming Art Museum, the Montclair Art Museum and the College of Wooster Art Museum.
His work can currently be viewed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of the “Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room” exhibit. The ongoing Met exhibit displays Cole’s piece “Shine,” which fuses patent leather, high-heeled shoes into the shape of a 19th century mask from Cameroon.
Yet, the public can also view many of his outdoor sculptures at locations throughout New Jersey, including large fiberglass spheres at The College of New Jersey, illuminated shorebirds made out of water bottles at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, and a windshield fence at Washington Park Station in Newark.
‘The Sole Sitter’ is a play on words: ‘sole’ evokes both the everyday (worn shoe bottoms) as well as the exceptional, while its homophone ‘soul’ connotes spiritual essence. Photo courtesy of Willie Cole/Alexander and Bonin
In March, Cole will be exhibiting sculptural works made of musical instruments at the Alexander and Bonin gallery in New York City to raise money for music education in New Jersey.
Beyond sculpture, Cole also writes, draws illustrations and plays music. To learn more about Willie Cole and to purchase his work, visit williecole.com.
Katrina Rossos is a writer and editor with a passion for the environment, ecology and wildlife conservation. Her freelance work has been published in Backpacker Magazine and Backpacker.com, U.S. News & World Report, Nature World News and The Dodo, among others.
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With unassuming items, N.J. artist creates ingenious perspectives - Jersey's Best
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