Meet William Rhodes

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to William Rhodes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi William, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

When thinking about my personal journey and finding purpose in community art. I other think of back on how I got here. Finding my purpose was not an easy journey. My early life was influenced by the challenges of growing up in an urban environment, and as a small child, I was often bullied. As a result, I suffered physical injuries that required an extended period of recovery. These circumstances led me to pour my time and energies into drawings and imagined narratives that served as a path back to health.

As I grew older, art became a way for me to share my creativity, and I saw how it could change and enhance the lives of others. I began teaching art to youth and seniors. I became especially passionate about seniors, who had so much history to share, yet often felt overlooked in our youth-driven society. I realized that their stories needed to be preserved in a creative way.

This led me to quilt making, which allowed for both the recording of narratives and the expression of creativity. I developed this quilting into a community project, allowing seniors from all walks of life to share their histories and stories. Some of the participants had been victims of gentrification and displacement, leading to some of the participants being unhoused. The quilting project, has now developed into the Narrative Quilt Project. This initiative has now extended into a national and international project that addresses the important issues of gentrification and homelessness. I feel truly blessed to have art as a way of sharing my life purpose.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My name is William Rhodes, and I am a mixed media artist with over 30 years of experience. My work integrates craft, cultural memory, and spiritual symbolism. With an MFA in Furniture Design from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, I bring a strong foundation in woodworking and design to a practice that also includes found materials, textiles, and community collaboration.

My art is rooted in African American traditions and centers themes of history, healing, and intergenerational storytelling. My creative works are in the permanent collections of various galleries and museums, including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Casa De Africa Museum in Cuba, Crocker Museum, and Africa Centre in London.

Based in San Francisco, I have worked for over a decade in the community as an artist and educator. I have taught art to youth in public schools and community programs and founded an intergenerational art program at Bayview Senior Services, where seniors and young people create shared projects that honor lived experience and cultural heritage.

Quilting has become a central medium in my work, offering a tactile and historically resonant form of storytelling that supports deep community engagement. My quilting projects have expanded to national and international reach. For example, in 2014, I developed and led the Nelson Mandela International Quilt Project, linking youth in San Francisco and South Africa through quilt-making and dialogue. My current work continues this cross-cultural, community-based approach.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Throughout my life, I have found several key factors that have been impactful throughout my personal and professional journey, particularly in navigating challenges.
Key Life Lessons:

1. Continuous Learning and Adaptability: Staying constantly learning new things and adapting to change has kept my life exciting and relevant. The world changes rapidly, and staying current requires continuous integration of new information and flexibility.
2. Response Over Circumstance: It is important to know that we are defined not by the changes in our life, but by our response to those challenges. Viewing challenges as motivation to move forward is key to success.
3. Develop Your Craft with Purpose: Focusing on and developing your craft is crucial. Earning a living from your skills is a true blessing, and using those skills to help people and the community can provide a sense of purpose and joy more fulfilling than just focusing on money and power.

Advice for Folks Early in Their Journey

For individuals starting their professional or personal journeys, I strongly advise developing the ability to be adaptable through continuous learning:

– Embrace Change: View unexpected changes not as obstacles, but as opportunities to learn new systems and perspectives. The most valuable skill in a fast-moving world is the ability to acquire new skills quickly.
– Seek Diverse Experiences: Step outside your comfort zone. Working in different roles, with various types of people, or in new industries builds your ability to thrive in unfamiliar situations.
– Be a Lifelong Learner: Cultivate a habit of learning something new every day, whether it is a new skill, a historical fact, or a different cultural perspective.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

I feel my parents were profoundly impactful in shaping me into the artist I am today. Both my mother and father consistently encouraged my creative pursuits and never suggested that art was not a viable profession.

My father, in particular, made significant sacrifices. He often worked two jobs to support our family, yet still dedicated his days off to finding opportunities for me to improve my skills. He signed me up for every free art class offered at local museums on the weekends. When I decided to audition for an arts high school, my father reached out to community members and arranged for experienced artists to work with me on a portfolio, which ultimately led to my acceptance into the Baltimore School for the Arts.

In essence, my parents never stopped believing in my creative talents and provided the constant encouragement I needed to make my dreams come true.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.williamrhodesart.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/William-Rhodes-Art-100057545984118/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8sA-XTTvb0&t=7s
• Other: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Rhodes_(sculptor)

Image Credits

Jason Henry
John White
Pernilla Persson
Henrik Kam