About

Artist Bio

Aaron D. Williams is a Cleveland-based multimedia artist and entrepreneur. A multi-dimensional creative working primarily in mixed media, Williams blends the aesthetics of contemporary design, traditional painting, and street art to examine topics of social significance related to identity and culture.


Williams is the CEO and principal designer of Aawful Aaron, an emerging apparel brand and creative agency. His work has been exhibited in cultural institutions, including The Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, The Cleveland Public Library, and various Midwest retail and community spaces.

 

Artist Statement 

I enjoy exploring different mediums, from drawing to painting. I use a multidisciplinary approach, showcasing mixed media works alongside new merchandise and public programs to promote a more holistic art experience.

My creative practice begins with research. After deciding on the subject, I consume any available materials and compile my favorite references to create a final mood board composition. Using drawing as the foundation of my work, I rely heavily on layering, applying extensive amounts of colored pencils, markers, and mixed media to create the final composition. I manipulate photorealistic practices to shape an altered representation of the chosen subject. This may mean exaggerating perceived “truths,” whether that be the figure's anatomy, my choice of palette, or the use of the material itself.

Paralleling my physical process, my work is also conceptually layered. I address a topic using a variety of influences that draw from my experiences, pop culture, and the stories I’ve learned in my lifetime. 

-Aaron D. Williams

  

 

Exhibitions

2022 FutureLAND / Installation, Cleveland, OH.

2022 Greenlight Art Gallery / Group Show, Cleveland, OH. 

2022 Yards Project / Illustrious Gravitas, Cleveland, OH.

2022   Museum of Contemporary Art / Museum of Creative Human Art, Where We Overlap, Cleveland, OH. 

2022 Longhouse Gallery / The Prototype Lab, Cleveland, OH. 

2021 Future Ink Graphics’ Community Gallery, New Neighbors, Cleveland, OH.

2021  Museum of Contemporary Art / Museum of Creative Human Art, Aawful Aaron Solo Exhibition, Cleveland, OH. 

2020  I See Voices Art & Activism Gallery, I See Voices, Cleveland, OH.

 

Clients

Cleveland Public Library 

Condado Tacos Kalamazoo 

FRONT International

Greater Collinwood Development Corporation 

Maker’s Mark

ThirdSpace Action Lab

 

Collaborations 

Bolstr

Museum of Creative Human Arts

Reform Skateboarding 

Rule of Next