Interview: Bria Sterling Wilson
By Lia J. Latty
Published April 2nd, 2021
Did you always know you wanted to be a creative and a photographer?
BRIA: Yes, actually at a very young age. I was interested in drawing and painting when I was in middle school. My mother was an artist as well, so I definitely think that piqued my interest in the arts. I received my first Minolta film camera in high school. That opened the door to photography for me and I never looked back.
How do you define your relationship with photography?
BRIA: I carry my camera with me everywhere. If not my Nikon, I have my Minolta film camera by my side. Even though collage is my main focus as of recent, traditional/digital photography is always going to be a part of my artistic practice.
What inspirations influence your collages?
BRIA: My experiences as a black woman in America have a major influence on my work. Black history and current events also influence my practice. I reference the past and present in my collage work. As for artists that influence me…I would have to say Deborah Roberts, Romare Bearden, Lorna Simpson, Martha Rosler, Kara Walker, and Mickalene Thomas.
Black Woman Eating Chicken
How do you approach creating a new collage? What elements do you think of first?
BRIA: It alternates, sometimes I will have in mind an idea of what I want a collage to visually state, then I’ll find the pieces that help bring that idea together. Or, after searching and cutting up my materials I will find an image (or multiple images) and start formulating the pieces to the puzzle. From there, I can contextualize exactly what the piece is conveying. There is an intuitive element that definitely guides me through my creative process as well.
What topics are you addressing through your work?
BRIA: I address a great deal of topics in my collage work including the idealized standards of beauty placed upon women of color, cultural appropriation, race, stereotypes, and identity. I also confront the oppressive nature and historical narratives associated with the African American community.
What Do You Have to Lose?
“I think art should make you feel something and that’s all I want when people view my collages or photography.“
As a Black creative, how have you navigated the photo world/industry so far as a college student?
BRIA: Being a black creative and a woman right now in the art world is amazing because we are FINALLY getting noticed. There is much more work that needs to be done, but this push to break down barriers is brilliant. With that push comes opportunities! I apply to as many grants, exhibitions, showcases, and juried shows as possible. While doing so, I try my best to balance my rigorous college education and my need to create!
In what ways do you see your artistic practice evolving?
BRIA: That’s a good question. I see myself evolving everyday as an artist. I am always reading and learning, trying to educate myself. By doing so, I am able to expand my creativity for my collages and photographs. I want to construct more complex collages, go larger in size, and dig deeper in my personal life for inspiration. So that’s the next steps for my collages and photography.
What do you hope people take away from your imagery?
BRIA: I think art should make you feel something and that’s all I want when people view my collages or photography. Opening up dialogue and creating a space for conversations on the subject matter that I express in my work is even more amazing.