Wilmer Wilson IV

Though still a student at Howard University, Wilmer Wilson IV has already staged successful performances at Hillyer Art Space and the (e) merge art fair in the district. Wilson will create a suite of performances based on the historic 19th century figure Henry “Box” Brown, a slave from Richmond, Virginia (the artist’s hometown), who mailed himself to freedom in the North by paying to be shipped in a crate. For Henry “Box” Brown: FOREVER, Wilson will cover himself with three grades of postage stamps and walk into post offices, asking to be mailed.

Project Dates & Locations:

April 5th, 9am until early afternoon @ The University of the District of Columbia - 4200 Connecticut Ave, NW (between the cafeteria and law library)
April 9th, 9am until early afternoon @ Lincoln Theater - 1215 U Street NW
April 13th, 9am until early afternoon @ Old Post Office Pavillion (at 9AM) to Postal Square (approximately 2PM) - 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW / 2 Massachusetts, Avenue, NE

Wilmer Wilson IV is a DC-based artist working in photography, performance and installation. He appropriates objects common to his everyday experience and manipulates them to absurd ends, engaging complex social, psychological and philosophical dialogues. This fall he completed performances at Hillyer Art Space and the (e)merge art fair in Washington DC. He was a 2011 artist in residence at the Strathmore Mansion in Maryland, where he created an installation using thousands of paper bags and his own breath. He was also included in the group show “BITE: Identity and Humor,” curated by Jefferson Pinder at the Greater Reston Arts Center in Virginia. He is currently represented by Conner Contemporary Art and is a 2012 BFA candidate at Howard University.