Vanessa Addison-Williams is a mixed media artist whose work explores the evolving complexity of African American identity through collage, painting, and assemblage. Drawing on her life experiences and the legacy of influential and groundbreaking African American artists such as Romare Bearden, Faith Ringgold, and David Driskell, Addison-Williams creates reimagined representations of Black life in America. Her art reflects a deep engagement with the historical and cultural narratives that continue to shape African American identity today.

 

Addison-Williams often explores themes such as intergenerational family relationships, the Black church experience, African American social movements, and broader cultural histories. Her mixed-media compositions are conceptually driven, treating each material element as a piece of signifying language. Scraps of newsprint, magazine clippings, fragments of color, words, paint, and fiber are layered with intentional symbolism, offering nuanced interpretations of contemporary urban life and identity.

 

Born in Monterey, California, and raised in the vibrant coastal city of Seaside on the Monterey Peninsula, Addison-Williams relocated to Fresno in 2002. She currently resides there and teaches computer art and design courses at both Fresno State and Clovis Community College. She holds a BA in Graphic Design and an MA in Studio Art from California State University, Fresno and is also a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force Reserve with 26 years of honorable service. Addison-Williams shares her artwork through exhibitions and showcases across a range of venues and platforms. She is passionate about curating and collaborating on cultural art projects that enhance public spaces—mentally, physically, and spiritually—and seek to enlighten and uplift all who engage with them.