Willie Cole (b. 1955) describes himself as a “contemporary artist, perceptual engineer, ecological mechanic, and transformer.” All of these things are true in his work regardless of the medium he is working in. Whether he is creating a print, sculpture, or textile, his use of unconventional tools like irons, high heels, and water bottles tells the complex story of the Black and Black American experience. His work tells two stories: a visual one, as his prints and sculptures mimic familiar figures like ships or chandeliers, and another about the domestic labor of enslaved peoples, who would have used objects such as irons every day. Willie’s work forces viewers to question their perception of the world, both past and present.

As an artist, Cole represents in his work the values of the modern generation of ecologically minded artists through his production focused on multiples and recycling of commercial products as raw materials for his work. He imparts spiritual and intellectual value to the products of consumer culture, and grounds his art in this practice. A concern with human threats to the Earth’s environment and his views that all objects are resources to be leveraged for their spiritual power is centered in his work. His statement, “I can make anything out of everything, and everything out of anything,” reflects his belief that all objects are sources of energy on a molecular level that unites all material objects.