Artist Talk with Kevin Williams

On Saturday, January 28th at 3 pm ARTSPACE at Untitled will host a conversation with Kevin Williams, a featured artist in The Collector’s Eye Exhibition, a selection of works from Ekpedeme’ Udoh’s private collection currently on view at ARTSPACE.

This open dialogue welcomes audience participation in creating a relationship between the artist and collector.

KEVIN WILLIAMS BIO:
Kevin A. Williams, better known by the art moniker WAK, his initials backwards, is an American painter and businessman from Chicago’s Southside. He is one of the most celebrated figurative storytellers of this era with his collection of paintings being the most widely circulated urban fine art series in the world.

At the age of 15, Kevin A. Williams started working as an artist in Chicago’s Historic East 87th Street Black Business District, drawing and painting images for clothing boutiques and hair salons. At 19, he became a cosmetology illustrator for Soft Sheen hair products which eventually led to a commission from Alberto Culver USA, to create “Standing Appointment” which depicts 4 women under hair dryers, for their Motions hair care line. It is regarded as the most popular art image in the history of the hair care industry.

While developing his fine art line, Williams worked exclusively with the late Actor/Comedian Bernie Mac as his personal artist for over 15 years, creating over 20 original paintings, including a very important piece commissioned by the Actor/Comedian as a gift for Oprah Winfrey. The piece titled “Anointed Gift” was unveiled on Oprah’s televised 50th birthday celebration and was regarded by her as “the most amazing gift”. This amazing gift currently hangs in the lobby of Winfrey’s Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.

In November 2009, Williams was commissioned by the Professional Golf Association (PGA) to memorialize Ted Rhodes, John Shippen, Bill Spiller, the first African-American inductees to the PGA who were denied membership during their professional careers, along with honorary member, heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis. Williams also made history by becoming the 1st African American artist to have a painting permanently hang in the PGA National Museum in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

In April 2018, Williams was commissioned by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated to create a centerpiece for the newly renovated national headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. ” The One” depicts the founding, legacy, and continued life of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

He currently resides in Lithonia, GA with his wife and two children.

EKPEDEME UDOH BIO:
Ekpedeme “Ekpe” Udoh is a Nigerian-American born in Edmond, Oklahoma, and is a graduate of Edmond Santa Fe high school. He enjoys reading and runs a public book club, mostly online, in his spare time. He is quoted as saying, “If I can play in the NBA and still find time to read — so can you!”.

Udoh is a professional basketball player currently playing for Shimane Susanoo Magic of the Japanese B. League. He played college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines and the Baylor Bears. In the 2010 NBA draft, he was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the sixth overall pick. During his NBA career, Udoh played two seasons with the Golden State Warriors, three seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, one season with the Los Angeles Clippers and two seasons with the Utah Jazz.

Udoh was selected for the Nigerian national team for both the 2019 FIBA World Cup and the 2020 Olympic Games.