Biography
TINA WILLIAMS BREWER
LIVES AND WORKS IN PITTSBURGH (PA), USA
Known for her story quilts, Williams Brewer uses symbolism, textile, and fabrics to explore African-American history, generational healing, and the spirituality of her culture. Speaking of her work, Williams Brewer states, “through my work I tell a story, carrying messages from ancestors. My work is a celebration of the profound joy of gathering with loved ones and the strength of spiritual connections. It is an expression of the deep pain of racism and the pathways forward, the resilience of African American families and the light that lifts them up. My intention is to give dignity to human suffering, finding rhythms that are both mind-stirring and soul-soothing.”
Williams Brewer’s pieces are primarily hand-quilted and collage mixed-mediums including photo transfers, printmaking, and hand-beading. Each piece is embellished with symbols drawn from African nations and rich colorful fabrics with patterns that allude to both cultural meanings and personal history. Her process creates complex, layered compositions that function as maps investigating her heritage, the African diaspora, and the links between past, present, and future.
C.V
EDUCATION
1971 Columbus College of Art and Design, BA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 Tina Williams Brewer: Stories of Grace, The Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia (SC), USA
2022
Cultivation: Journey of the Work, Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburgh (PA), USA2018
Rising from the Thicket, Museum of African American Art, Dallas (TX), USA2014
Fragments, Fractals: Write It, Print It, Sew It, 709 Gallery, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh (PA), USA2011
The Art of Tina Williams Brewer and Harris Shahn, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Museum, Indiana (PA), USA2009
Tina Williams Brewer, Westmoreland Community College, Youngwood, (PA), USA
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Fabric of Life, Paul Smith Space and Vortic Virtual Reality and Digital Exhibitions, London (UK)
2024
W.O.W.: Women’s Outstanding Works Exhibit, Art in the Atrium, Inc (ATA), Morristown (NJ), USA2024
65 Artists, 65 Years: An Anniversary Exhibition, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg (PA), USA2023
Ever Evolving, Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media, Pittsburgh (PA), USA2023
Expo Chicago, The International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, Chicago (IL), USA2022
Future Vision: Women of Visions, Carnegie Museum of Art & Women of Visions, Pittsburgh (PA), USA2022
Soul of a Region, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Museum, Indiana (PA), USA2021
Women of Visions: Celebrating 40 Years, University of Pittsburgh Art Gallery, Pittsburgh (PA), USAania Museum, Indiana (PA), USA2021
The Social Fabric: Artistry in Fiber Arts, An Exhibition Homage to Viki Craig, Morris Museum & Art in the Atrium, Morristown (NJ), USA2021
COVID-19 PAGES: The Influence & Inspiration of Women, Wells International Foundation, Paris (France)/ Houston (TX), USA2021
The Norval Sovereign African American Art Foundation, Wells International Foundation, Paris (France)/ Houston (TX), USA2021
Knotted Ties, Christies Rockefeller Plaza, New York (NY), USAston (TX), USA2021
Untitled Art Fair: Miami Beach, De Buck Gallery, Miami Beach (FL), USA2020
Diversity Billboard, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg (PA), USA2020
Three Artists (Three Women), University Art Gallery at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh (PA), USAUSAston (TX), USA2019
Seats of Power, Women of Visions at the August Wilson Center, Pittsburgh (PA), USA2019
Poetics in Diversity: Contemporary Art from Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, Pittsburgh Matanzas Sister Cities Partnership, Energy Innovation Center, Covestro BrightSpace, Pittsburgh (PA), USA2018
Summer Exhibition, Visual Arts at Chautauqua Institute, Chautauqua (NY), USA2018
Thickets, Art Space Gallery, Fresno City College, Fresno (CA), USA2018
African Americans in Conversation, Pittsburgh City County Building, Pittsburgh (PA), USA2017
Sankofa Soul, Women of Visions, Inc., Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh (PA), USA2016
Art Advocacy Speaks: Art for Social Change, Spinning Plate Gallery, Pittsburgh (PA), USA2016
Threads: From Traditional to Today, Governor’s Residence, PA Council on the Arts, Harrisburg (PA), USA2015
Stitches, Contemporary Fiber Art, Cummings Art Gallery, Mercyhurst University, Erie (PA), USA2013
Three Artists’ Journeys To, Through and Beyond, August Wilson Center, Pittsburgh (PA), USA
HONORS & AWARDS
2024 The Westmoreland Society, Distinguished Artist award
2024 Carol R. Brown Creative Achievement Award
2024 Contemporary Craft Award
2019 Selected artist for Pittsburgh International Airport / London Arts Activation, UK
2019 The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, purchase award
2019 The Huntington Museum of Art, Purchase award
2018 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Governor’s Awards for the Arts, Artist of the Year
2016 Carroll Harris Simms National Black Arts Award, 2016; Exhibition, 2018
2013 Master Visual Artist, Pittsburgh Filmmakers/Pittsburgh Center for the Arts
2010 Advancing Black Arts Initiative, Heinz Endowment and Pittsburgh Foundation, African Diaspora Residency, Artists Image Resource, Pittsburgh, PA, 2010
2009 Tina Williams Brewer Day, declared by Pittsburgh City Council, Pittsburgh (PA)
2008 Service to the Arts Award, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts Guild Council
2008 Woman of Excellence Award, New Pittsburgh Courier
2006 Duquesne Light Award, Duquesne Light Company
2006 Walter Gropus Master Artist Award
2005 Outstanding Humanitarian Award Lincoln-Larrington Development Corp.
2005 Woman of the New Tribe Award, August Wilson Center, Pittsburgh PAibit
2004 Woman of Distinction, Girl Scouts of Western, PA
2004 Outstanding Humanitarian Award Lincoln-Larimer Community Develop. Co
2004 Trailblazer Award, Renaissance Magazine
2001 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowship
2001 The Fitz Award for the Advancement of Women
1998 Celebrating Those Who Care, Artist of the Year, 1998 (Carnegie Mellon, Shady Lane, Office of Child Development)
1997 Art of the State Best of Show Award, State Museum of Pennsylvania and Greater Harrisburg Arts Council
1997 Mid-Atlantic Arts Grant, Clay Center, Charleston, WV
PRESS & SELECTED INTERVIEWS
Transition Magazine 136 QUEER UGANDA, Harvard University
https://transitionmagazine.fas.harvard.edu/home/current-issue/PCAM Sunday Conversations – Panel Discussion
Carol R. Brown Creative Achievement Awards 2024 Tina Williams Brewer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gppvCYIddbg
Tina Williams Brewer: Stories of Grace, Columbia Musuem of Art https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZdlWwSr0mQ
Virtual Studio Tour https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=17049114429965
Eclectic Rhythms, The Artists of Huntington, West Virginia, 1871-Present by Geoffrey K. Fleming, https://hmoastore.com/products/eclectic-rhythmns
Threading Histories, Global Conversation, Dinga McCannon and Tina Williams Brewer in Conversation https://1-54-forum.captivate.fm/episode/threading-histories-dindga-mccannon-and-tina-williams-brewer-in-conversation
Artsy, The Ten Best Booths at Expo Chicago’s Online Edition https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-10-best-booths-expo-chicagos-online-edition
NATAAL, Knotted Ties, I-54, New York https://nataal.com/knotted-ties
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, Exhibitors https://www.1-54.com/new-york/artists/williams-brewer-tina/
The Art Newspaper, an online and print publication that covers the international art world https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/05/07/unable-to-run-in-its-usual-format-1-54-contemporary-african-art-fair-moves-into-christies-for-bijou-showcase
TSA Contemporary Art Magazine focused on contemporary art from Africa and the African diaspora https://thesoleadventurer.com/1-54-new-yorks-curated-section-focuses-on-textile-practices/
DeBuck Gallery, NYC and Saint Paul De Vence, France https://www.debuckgallery.com/announcing-representation-of-tina-williams-brewer/
Wells International Foundation, Featured Artist, Tina Williams Brewer https://wellsinternationalfoundation.org/covid-19-pages-featured-artist-tina-williams-brewer/
Tribune Review https://triblive.com/local/fox-chapel/fabric-artist-tina-williams-brewer-evokes-emotion-conversation-with-quilts/
Pennsylvania Folklore: Woven Together, PBS documentary, produced by WPSU Penn State https://www.pbs.org/video/pennsylvania-folklore-woven-together-7cnofi/
THE GLASSBLOCK, Security Blanket: The Story Quilts of Tina Williams Brewer http://theglassblock.com/2016/06/07/security-blanket-tina-williams-brewer/
100 Years of African American History: A Fiber Art Retrospective, exhibition catalog https://tinawilliamsbrewer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/courier-project.pdf
Guided by the Ancestors, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts catalog https://www.commoncrowbooks.com/pages/books/B60419/tina-williams-brewer/guided-by-the-ancestors
Designing Home Lifestyles, Gallery Feature, by Janice Milliner
“Bravo!” The Meadville Tribune Magazine, feature article
International Review of African American Art, Vol 21, Number 4 https://online.hamptonu.edu/product/the-international-review-of-african-american-art-vol-21-no-4-2007-connecting-the-three-cs-collecting-conservation-and-collaboration/
Celebration of Visual Traditions: New Work of Diverse Pennsylvania Artists, PA Council on the Arts & Penn State University
Textural Rhythms: Quilting the Jazz Tradition, by Carolyn Mazloomi https://www.amazon.com/Textural-Rhythms-Quilting-Jazz-Tradition/dp/0979267501
U.S. Department of State 2006 Desk Diary, Regional Program Office
Threads of Faith: Recent Works from the Women of Color Quilters Network, by Carolyn Mazloomi and Patricia C. Pongracz https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/author/carolyn-mazloomi-patricia-pongracz
“Ancient Symbols, New Meanings: A Modern Quilter Explores Old Images” Quilting Quarterly
Spirit of the Cloth: Contemporary African American Quilts, by Carolyn Mazloomi, Preface by Faith Ringgold https://www.amazon.com/Spirits-Cloth-Contemporary-African-American/dp/0609600915
Threads of Faith: Recent Works from the Women of Color Quilters Network, by Carolyn Mazloomi and Patricia C. Pongracz https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/author/carolyn-mazloomi-patricia-pongracz
Pennsylvania: A History of the Commonwealth, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Uncommon Beauty in Common Objects, Ornament Magazine, by Anne L. Ross
Uncommon Beauty in Common Objects: The Legacy of African American Craft Art, National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, Wilberforce, Ohio https://www.amazon.com/Uncommon-Beauty-Common-Objects-American/dp/1880179032
RESIDENCIES & WORKSHOPS
2024 Artist in Residency at Wesley School Pittsburgh (PA), USA
2024 Creative Citizen Studios (AAP) Artists in Residency (Leah Patsgorski, Michelle Brown, Tina Williams Brewer)
2024 Artist in Residency, Pittsburgh Linden Elementary School, Pittsburgh (PA), USA, 24th year
2024 Unknown Heroes, Artist in Residency Center for Civic Arts, Pittsburgh (PA), USA
2023 Artist in Residency, Pittsburgh Linden Elementary School, Pittsburgh (PA), USA, 23rd year
2023 Sacred Spaces, Artist in Residency Center for Civic Arts, Pittsburgh (PA), USA
2019 Artist in Residency Pittsburgh Linden, Sunnyside, and Beechwood Elementary Schools, Pittsburgh (PA), USA
2019 Lecture and Workshop, Gettysburg (PA), USA
2018 Artist in Residency, Pittsburgh Woodland Hill Middle School, Pittsburgh (PA), USA
2015 Artist in Residency Advancing the Black Arts Initiative Grant, Sweetwater Arts Center Pittsburgh (PA), USA
2011 Black Arts Initiative, supported by The Heinz Endowments and The Pittsburgh Foundation, Artist Image Resource (AIR), Pittsburgh (PA), USA
2011 HOME, Two artist cooperative, large-scale installation (The Andy Warhol Museum, Homewood Artist Residency), Greater Pittsburgh Coliseum, Pittsburgh (PA), USA
2010 Artist in Residency, Pittsburgh Public Schools in conjunction with Fiberart International, Pittsburgh (PA), USA
2007 Issues in Education, African Art & Culture, Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, Pittsburgh (PA), USA
2005 Individual Artist Fellowship Panel, Ohio Arts Council, (OH), USA
2004 One-Person Show and Lecture, Westminster College, Wilmington (PA), USA
2004 The Ties that Bind, Panel Discussion, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Media, Pittsburgh (PA), USA
1998 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Organizational Development Conference, Pittsburgh (PA), USA
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, 1993–present, Emeritus Board Member, Pittsburgh Filmmakers/Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Board Member, Women of Visions, Inc., 1986–present, president 2016 to 2018, Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, 1985–present, Senator John Heinz History Center, Advisory Board, 1994, Trolley Station Oral History Center, 1993–present.
FULL C.V. AVAILABLE HERE
Tina Williams Brewer 