Meet Willie Williams | Artist & Gallery Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Willie Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Willie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The thought process for me was threefold: first, my thought was to create something sustainable for me upon exiting college. I figured that it wouldn’t make sense for me to wait on a job opportunity or the chance to be “discovered” to come after school, like it is typically done, especially for young artists. I was fortunate enough to start my business the summer leading up to my junior year in college thanks to a move that my family business made into a new industrial warehouse space. When that happened, I decided to seize that moment, get creative with a portion of the new space, and build upon that opportunity for myself to thrive in my art career post – college.

Secondly, my thought was to provide a space for young artists, like myself at the time, in college and coming out of college to exhibit their work. Most of my colleagues and peers didn’t have access to that opportunity immediately, and so I realized that was a void that needed to be filled, and that I was in position to do so.

Lastly, I thought about my environment and history simultaneously. My gallery stands only black art gallery in the state of Alabama. I’m located in the northern section of Birmingham, a section that is economically strapped, consists of a primarily black demographic, and lacks access to arts and culture in comparison to prominent parts of the city. So my gallery is situated in an unlikely place, at an unlikely time. That inspired me early to exist and create a new paradigm and attitude about undeserved areas and how black people can be appreciated, have a voice, and thrive economically through the arts.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art emphasizes themes related primarily to African- American culture, including themes of identity and heritage. The primary goal within my art is to depict positive representations of African-American culture and portray a heightened and multifaceted perspective on black heritage and identity.

What sets me apart is my creativity in the medium of sculpture. I love working with metal and steel within my sculptures and I’m able to tell multilayered stories through my creations, jam packed with a lot of soul! Currently I’m most excited about current commissions that I’m doing and a new project I’ve recently started that’s centered around global justice.

If I had to attribute one thing that has got me to where I am today, I would say that my work ethic is that thing. The long hours of planning, creating, and physical labor all done concurrently are not for the faint at heart. As an entrepreneur, I am required to multitask and work almost around the clock! Yes, it can be draining, but I know that it is necessary to build my vision and brand. My motto is to put in the work early, so that my older self will thank me later.

The road is not easy. Sometimes my gallery has experienced months without an art sale. There have been times when I’d have big crowds at the gallery, and then small. Early on, the struggles used to frustrate me, but I’ve learned the art of detaching from the outcome, both good or bad, and focus on what the overall vision and ultimate goals for my career are, and most importantly, keep doing damn good work! The old cliche, ” build and they will come”, has truth to it and I’ve seen that happen at unexpected times. The right people, at the right time, will align with you.

My brand slogan is “the ultimate art and cultural experience”, which means that through my gallery an my art, the viewer can connect and engage universally, regardless of background, age, status, or the like. My goal for a viewer or audience member is to leave my gallery or artwork with a refreshed perspective on their own life, a social issue, or perception of another. The “experience” that I mentioned is the captivation of the mind, body, and soul through the experience of being in the art gallery surrounded by wonderful masterpieces. Along with this, the next and most crucial component of the experience is the discourse and dialogue that takes place around the responses to the art on display. This is when the art becomes living and it reaches people’s current level of experience and emotion, and potentially elevates and exposes people to new ways of seeing and responding to different forms of thought and culture. In all of this, I keep at the forefront the importance of promoting black culture and artistic expression through the arts, and being an example of proud black business ownership through a service – oriented mindset.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my friend was visiting Birmingham, first we’d go and eat! My top fives would include Soul BBQ, Post Office Pies, Eugene’s, Green Acres, and Southern Kitchen. Drinks would definitely be at Avondale Brewery or Bizarre Coffee Shop. Then, we would go and visit the Civil Rights Museum, the Birmingham Museum of Art, Vulcan Park, The Summit, and of course, my gallery, Studio 2500. We would visit an artist by the name of Joe Minter in the African Village on the west side of Birmingham. He’s a pretty interesting guy and has a story to tell.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Sure! I want to give a shoutout to first the true living Universal God, my ancestors who paved the way for me long before I was thought of, and my family, who all have been a consistent presence of support and love that I am forever grateful for.

Website: studio25.gallery

Instagram: @studio.twenty.five.00

Linkedin: Willie Williams

Twitter: Studio 2500

Facebook: Studio 2500

Youtube: Willie Williams

Image Credits
Carmen Williams Xavier Moore