OSHUN WILLIAMS
JIMMY’S BLUEPRINT
Opening Reception:
Friday, June 19th | 6 - 9 PM
PREVIEW
OSHUN WILLIAMS
Acrylic and mixed media, chenille patches, found objects, oil pastels on canvas
36 × 36 inches
Artist Note:
A quite moment of care, memory, and belonging. The artist captures the intimacy of family life, where love, nourishment, and legacy are shared across generations. In this season of gathering and reflection, the work serves as gentle reminder of what truly sustains us.
OSHUN WILLIAMS
Acrylic and mixed media, chenille patches, embroidered patches, oil pastels on canvas
36 × 36 inches
Artist Note:
This painting depicts a family gathered around the table getting ready to enjoy a Sunday meal together. The up-cycled hats throughout the piece add cultural context and substance to the story being told. The patchwork represents finding a way through hard times and striving to create a better life. At the head of the table, the father is looked to for clarity, guidance, and leadership.
OSHUN WILLIAMS
Acrylic and mixed media, chenille patches, found objects, embroidered patches, oil pastels, newspaper on canvas
48 × 72 inches
OSHUN WILLIAMS
Acrylic and mixed media, chenille patches, oil pastels, embroidered patches, newspaper on canvas
40 × 30 inches
OSHUN WILLIAMS
Acrylic and mixed media, chenille patches, oil pastels, embroidered patches, newspaper on canvas
40 × 30 inches
Artist Note:
This piece speaks on a time when cities like Detroit, Flint, and Pontiac were thriving for Black individuals working in automotive plants like General Motors. These jobs created opportunities for Black families to enter the middle class, build successful lives, and provide for future generations. Community was strong and deeply rooted, creating neighborhoods where families could grow, connect, and support one another.
OSHUN WILLIAMS
Acrylic and mixed media, chenille patches, embroidered patches, oil pastels, newspaper on canvas
48 × 72 inches
OSHUN WILLIAMS
Acrylic and mixed media, chenille patches, found objects, oil pastels on canvas
36 × 36 inches
Artist Note:
This painting speaks on how Black America can sometimes be victims of the same issues of those who came before them or a “Generational Curse”. Generational Curses are repeated patterns of trauma or bondage passed down through family lines, creating cycles that can be difficult to break. The work reflects on the idea that systems have been established to control the narrative of misrepresented individuals in Black America. It is a reflection on inherited struggles, survival, and the effort to create a different path for future generations.
OSHUN WILLIAMS
Acrylic and mixed media, chenille patches, oil pastels, newspaper on canvas
20 × 20 inches
Artist Note:
This piece speaks on the relationship of a father being separated from his daughters. The fan represents time being lost and the generational cycle of absence, demonstrating the idea that “times waits for no one.” As the children sit and wait for someone to arrive, the mood is nostalgic and gives the feeling that the artist has been here before.
OSHUN WILLIAMS
Acrylic and mixed media, chenille patches, oil pastels, newspaper on canvas
12 × 12 inches
OSHUN WILLIAMS
Acrylic and mixed media, chenille patches, embroidered patches, oil pastels, newspaper on canvas
60 × 36 inches
Artist Note:
The piece speaks on the relationship/love between a father and his daughter. The father accepting the load of responsibility of what fatherhood comes with.
This painting is a meditation on protection, tenderness, and the quiet beauty of Black fatherhood. At the center of the composition, a father holds a sleeping child close to his chest, creating an intimate moment rooted in safety, care, and emotional presence. The child rests peacefully in his arms, symbolizing trust and innocence, while the father’s lowered gaze suggests reflection, responsibility, and unconditional love.
OSHUN WILLIAMS
Acrylic and mixed media, chenille patches, oil pastels, embroidered patches, newspaper on canvas
36 × 24 inches
Artist Note:
This piece depicts a group of adolescent boys gathered in a neighborhood on a cornerside. Its tells the story of how people can grow up in the same place and experience different out-comes. Environment may shape people, but it does not define everyone the same way. The contrast is what makes the stories powerful. It shows how fragile and important guidance, community, and representation truly are. Opportunity does not reach everyone equally.
OSHUN WILLIAMS
Photo: Jimel Primm
Pontiac native, Oshun Williams is a mixed-media artist based in Detroit. After joining the Detroit Fine Arts Breakfast Club in 2022, Williams quickly gained recognition through a series of sold-out exhibitions — selling more than 200 works to date. His innovative approach to story telling and painting has sparked growing demand among collectors for emerging art. In 2024, he was awarded the Gucci Changemakers Siren Art Wall and commissioned work for the University of Michigan’s permanent collection. Beyond his own practice, Williams remains deeply engaged in his community—collaborating, collecting, and curating the work of fellow artists.
OSHUN WILLIAMS
Acrylic and mixed media, chenille patches, embroidered patches, oil pastels on canvas
48 × 72 inches
Artist Note:
This piece depicts a family gathering inside a carport, a place where tradition is practiced. Each individual represents both the past and present of a family legacy. The towels draped over the shoulders of the men symbolize the passage of manhood and the values that are passed from one generation to the next.