Artist Talk: Willie Cole

Join us for the next event in our Artist Talk series, featuring the dynamic American sculptor, printmaker, designer, perceptual engineer, and visual artist Willie Cole. In this compelling talk, Cole will share how he transforms everyday found objects into powerful works of art, drawing inspiration from traditional African imagery and cultural references.

This drop-in experience is included with Museum admission and is free for Members. Admission tickets are available at the door or online. 

About the artist

Willie Cole is an acclaimed artist known for transforming everyday objects like irons, shoes, and bicycle parts into striking sculptures and installations. His work explores themes of consumer culture, heritage, and identity, blending influences from African American imagery, Dada, and pop culture. A signature element in his art is the steam iron, symbolizing both creativity and cultural history.

Born in Newark, New Jersey, Cole studied fine arts in New York and Boston and has received prestigious awards, including the David C. Driskell Prize. His work is featured in the Milwaukee Art Museum’s collection and in major museums worldwide, such as MoMA, the Whitney, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Artist Talk series welcomes emerging, mid-career, and established artists to share what it means to live creatively. Discussing motivation, medium, and technique, artists will reveal how and why their work expresses their emotions and ideas.