Until Oct. 31, the Wright Museum will be hosting the Fall 2026 semester’s Ferrall Artist-in-Residence Tyanna J. Buie. Buie is a Chicago- and Milwaukee-based artist who specializes in screen printing, painting and digital art. Her work, such as the “Voting Rights are Human Rights” mural, is displayed prominently in the city of Milwaukee. Besides her collection of public art, Buie also has a diverse and cohesive portfolio of work ranging from self-portrait paintings to deep-faked VHS tapes which have been featured across the United States. She has earned many awards — most recently the 2020 Fellowship Art Award and the 2023 Ruth Arts/Mary L. Nohl Alumni Award. Currently, she works as an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director for printmaking at Rhode Island School of Design. She also is currently commissioned for the Obama Presidential Center.
Buie is a graphic artist who focuses on themes of identity and belonging, coupled with a nostalgic, pre-millenium twist. “She talks about how she found her own voice, and herself, through TV and characters,” says Wright Museum Curator Christa Story. “If you look at the titles, there’s ‘Me as Oprah,’ and ‘Me as Cleopatra Jones,’ etc.”
Buie’s work deals heavily with the youth culture, especially Black culture, of the 80s and 90s. “When I look at it, I think of a young adolescent discovering who they are,” said Story, pointing to a collection of self-portraits of Buie youthfully styled after high school photos. “The titles are really important: they’re all about the self. What she’s depicting is not only this nostalgic, growing up, becoming yourself, but also what these things do for your character as you’re growing up. In Milwaukee, [Buie] was creating a lot of billboards and murals, very public-facing art. These feel very private to me.” Buie draws heavily on her childhood during the artistic process, and her gallery gives her audience a chance to glean a more personal side of her, less overtly-wrapped in powerful social commentary, although that is certainly still a major theme.
The combination of political commentary and personal childhood experience is shown most prominently in one of her most interesting collections of pieces: several VHS tapes of her face deep-faked over videos of different Black stars, comedians, and cultural figureheads. “What you watch has so much to do with what you become or how you shape yourself. I can imagine someone sitting here and picturing themselves asking, ‘Am I like this? Could that be me?’ So here, she’s actually doing that visually,” Story says. “80’s and 90’s kids, it was huge to have [television]. The exposure to pop culture just exploded.” The gallery not only offers a unique perspective into Black American culture, but a glimpse into a nostalgic past that shaped millions of childhoods.
At 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, Buie will be hosting a presentation at her gallery discussing her style, inspirations and themes with students and faculty. The following day, she will be hosting a keynote in the Richardson Auditorium to talk about her journey and career as an artist. All are encouraged to attend. Finally, Buie will be visiting various classes from Oct. 19 to Oct. 22 to engage with and guide senior art students. Students can learn from Buie’s journey as an artist, her connection to her work, and her technical expertise in screen printing and multimedia design. If you see her around this October, make sure to say hello! And if you are curious about her expansive art collection, you can visit her website at tyannajbuie.com.
Buie is not the only new exciting gallery being showcased this fall. The Wright is also celebrating the new exhibit “Woven & Embroidered Identities: Fashions from China’s Last Dynasty,” which is open Sept. 8 through Oct. 10. The exhibit explores women’s identities in the Qing dynasty and the American collection of Chinese textiles and accessories. The exhibit includes pieces from the Wright’s collection that have not been displayed in 30 years. With over 5,000 pieces in the Wright’s collection, this exhibit gives students and the community an opportunity to see and discover new stories in the museum.
The Fall Opening Reception will be held Thursday Sept. 10, 4:30–6:00 p.m. There will be light refreshments and live performances, including a pop-up concert with Dr. Cullyn Murphy and an art performance by Professor Mats Rudels.
If you are interested in further developments and work done in the Wright Museum, you can find updates and information on their Facebook (@wrightmuseum), and Instagram (@WrightMuseum).
Featured image Beloit College
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