WILLIE COLE

SNAKE QUEEN, 2018; VILLAGE GIRL, 2017; CRY BABY, 2017; FUZZY, 2017; SHU SHU MASK, 2016

Willie Cole’s repurposed shoe masks, are visceral artworks that communicate potent and distinct messages about both discarded materials and African history. Installed in a former department store, these works take on new meaning by transforming obsolete footwear into fine art. Both a tribute to traditional art and the space’s previous use, these masks convey intuitive and unspoken narrative power.