Michael Kelly Williams creates sculptures, works on paper, and prints. His art is inspired by music, literature, nature, and the art of the African diaspora. He draws heavily from the art of the ancients and folk art. Concepts that interest him are the spiritual in art, environmental concerns, equality, justice, and Afrofuturism. This piece (pictured) is dedicated to Cecil Taylor, the poet and master of free-jazz piano, who played at lightning speed, full of key clusters and complex polyrhythmic chords and colors. The work is influenced by the Yoruba word, “ile,” meaning “house” or “home.”

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MODfest 2025