Wells is a self-taught folk artist out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whose work has been exhibited throughout the world. Wells’ collage art, which features and empowers Black women, is inspired by the stories and characters she created as a child to escape the troubles she faced being raised by a mother who struggled with mental illness and a father with anger issues. In 2012, a play about Wells’ life was written for a performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and in 2016, Wells was awarded the City of Milwaukee’s Artist of the Year Award.

“I’ve been all over the world with my art and Detroit really does have an incredible art community,” said Wells. “Even though my artwork is on back-order status, I was honored to create some pieces for Umoja’s show this year.

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