Four Fun Finds - Hadiya Williams
Get to know artist Hadiya Williams
Hey friend,
We’re back with our Four Fun Finds series. But first, let’s start with a question.
How have the challenges in your life changed your path? Hadiya Williams (episode 220) went from being laid off to thriving in her own studio. In her podcast episode, Hadiya shares how one creative constraint of working in one color for several months shifted her practice. I might just use Hadiya’s constraint in my creative practice as well!
Read below for Hadiya’s inspirations and what’s keeping her motivated in our Four Fun Finds series.
What are your favorite artistic tool(s)?
Exacto knife, Black 05 Micron pen, .7mm HB #2 mechanical pencil with a full eraser
2. Who is a favorite artist you go back to for inspiration?
“I speak of Elizabeth Catlett a lot because she’s one of the first visual artists whose work I encountered as a child. Her style made a big impression on me and how I see art. As I continue to develop as a multidisciplinary artist, her work resonates even more because she did not limit her craft to one medium and she was an artist who wanted her work to be in service of the people. And she was a DC girlie like myself.”
3. What is the last thing you bought and loved that cost less than $25?
”I went to the estate sale of Ysaye Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock. She is local to the DC area. This was a downsizing sale. She had so many pieces of Black culture in her home. Time capsules of who we are and all that we contribute to this world. I purchased a few items but some of my favorite are some Negro Digest and Black World publications from the 60s and 70s.”
4. What are you currently reading or watching?
”I am following along with the Literary Cleveland’s year-long Toni Morrison bookclub. The Bluest Eye is the book we are reading. I am slow to restart that one. Toni is my favorite author for many reasons but namely because Song of Solomon was the first book that opened my eyes to how you can combine African folktales, Black histories, the bible, Greek mythology, genealogy, and everyday Black life in a way that feels fluid and rich. I have read that book every February for the past 15 years.”
“There are some cool projects that I have in the works but I’m most excited about my upcoming show, November 21, 2026. Opening at Art of Noize in DC. This will be my third solo show and my second at AoN. We haven’t started promoting yet, but sign up for our newsletter (www.studiobppco.com) for updates”
Stay creative my friend,
Martine x
P.S. Don’t you just love the cheekiness in Hadiya’s work!