Artwork copyright Fred Wilson. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2022.

Artwork copyright Fred Wilson. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2022.

Artwork copyright Fred Wilson. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2022.

Artwork copyright Fred Wilson. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2022.

Artwork copyright Fred Wilson. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2022.

A Moth of Peace, 2018

Fred Wilson
(American, born 1954)

Location: Western Washington University, Bellingham

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

A Moth of Peace by Fred Wilson is installed side-by-side with The Way the Moon’s in Love with the Dark (2017, private purchase). A Moth of Peace is made of white and clear glass. The Way the Moon’s in Love with the Dark is made of black glass. The two sculptures offer very different visual experiences. Wilson explains, “I wanted the chandeliers to embody the complex relationship between the Venetian Empire [in Italy] and the Ottoman Empire [in Eastern Europe including Turkey] and the Africans swept up into both their histories. These two works, while very different, are tied by their connection to history, to poetry, to identity, to beauty.” The sculptures are symbols of wealth and are modeled on traditional Venetian and Ottoman chandelier designs. They explore the interconnection of cultures through trade routes, imperialism, exploitation, and oppression.

The two sculptures honor Virginia Wright, an important art collector and philanthropist in Washington, whose hometown was Bellingham.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Western Washington University.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Fred Wilson's art focuses on challenging colonial assumptions about history, culture, and race. By reframing objects and cultural symbols, he changes the traditional interpretations and encourages viewers to reconsider social and historical narratives.

Wilson is a Bronx-based artist who describes himself as being of African, Native American, European, and Amerindian descent. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Purchase in 1976. His art can be found in many collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, the Tate Modern in London, England, and more. In 2003, he represented the United States at the Venice Biennale international art exhibition in Italy.