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THOUGHTS

Thoughts about art and community.

For the Common Good: A Community Artist Interview with Jill Wells

Artist Jill Wells presenting about the power of public art at TEDx Des Moines, May 2021. Watch her full talk here.

If you live in Iowa, you likely don’t need an introduction to Des Moines artist Jill Wells. Her creative impact can be found in communities across the state, from her murals in Iowa City to her Artist X Advocacy mentorship program in Des Moines.

Jill is equally an artist and a change-maker. She uses art and storytelling to elicit empathy and connection, to mentor, to inspire us to take direct action, to see better, to do better, to be better. Not only is she an incredible painter and muralist, but she transforms art-making into strategies for community and human development. I take a LOT of notes from her projects.

Meet Jill:

In Jill’s words, she “is best known for her dynamic and colorful narrative paintings investigating race, history, stereotypes, accessibility and human experiences. Born 1980, in Des Moines, Iowa, Wells was raised in Indianola, Iowa. She studied at Drake University (BFA 2005). An award-winning artist, Wells has been in practice for more than 20 years, with public and private works in Iowa, California, Mississippi, Arizona and New Orleans. Her artwork is represented in the permanent collections of: The Center of Afro-
futurist Studies at Public Space One, The City of Iowa City and The University of Iowa, Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families, Disability Rights Iowa, Iowa Lutheran Hospital, The Annette Nature Center Blank Park Zoo, Polk County Jail (west wing) and Creative Visions Human Development Center.


In 2021 Wells was the recipient of the Iowa Arts & Culture Resilience Grant for the development of her mentorship program, Artist X Advocacy [A.X.A]. Additionally in 2021, Wells was selected for ARTIST Inc. Fellowship and was a TEDx speaker on the powerful impact of public works of art. In 2020, Lavender and Lime profiled Wells in an online published portrait manifesto series, Black Lives Matter Portrait Manifesto and gained a fellowship in the Iowa Creative Incubator at Mainframe Studios. Currently Jill Wells serves on the Board of Directors for The After School Arts Program and works as a full-time Artist.”

Jill Wells: Artist, Advocate, Mentor. Photo credit: Lav & Lime Photo Studio.

Who are you in 10 words? 

  • Child of God, Mother, Sister, Daughter, Artist, Mentor, Advocate, Feminist, Listener, Hard-Worker

What are your creative rituals? 

  • Cleaning my studio.

  • Research + play.

  • Visualization.

  • Writing + storytelling.

  • Q&A with family and friends.

  • Brushing new brushes across my face for quality check.

  • Public + community art workshops.

  • Annual artist talks.

  • Annual goal setting and applications of said goals.

  • Artist fellowships and grant writing.

The Oracles of Iowa City.

The murals, a joint project by Public Space One’s Center for Afrofuturist Studies with funding from Iowa City’s Public Art Program and the University of Iowa’s Office of the President of Research, first grew out of the protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020.

What community rituals do you value?

I would say my "community" rituals are also cultural and social rituals. 

  • Waukee Art Festival’s annual artist and buyer.

  • Kiwanis Club volunteer.

  • Birthday celebrations for me are a BIG deal, especially my immediate family.

  • Holiday dinners, formal place settings and always a remembrance setting or "The table set for one".

  • Nightly prayer with my son before bed each night.

  • Bringing gifts/food to people in the midst of major life events.

  • Housewarming or lift change, gratitude gifts, and/or letters to friends and family.

Jill’s "Future" Mural was commissioned by the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines on the Evelyn K. Davis Center. Watch this short video to learn more about Jill’s vision for Future and how it reflects the community work that the Evelyn K. Davis Center does in Des Moines.

How do you merge your creative work with your community work?

  • AXA Mentorship Program

  • Use of accessibility tools such as: sensory aids, interactive tech/QR codes/online platforms, pathways to literacy programs

  • Public works of art

  • Public art workshops

  • Artist/community talks

  • Attending art exhibit openings

  • Attending art/creative performances

How has that changed since the pandemic? 

Since the pandemic all of the above have increased and multiplied in my practice, for the better. 

What has been your hardest community lesson?

Accessibility issues and continued racial and gender inequality. Despite the gains in the last two decades, discriminatory laws and social norms remain pervasive. 

What has been your most fulfilling community moment? 

The dominant language and conversations around racial and gender issues. The recent and current willingness to learn how to have conversations about race and gender has been fulfilling in my personal, social and work life. My mission is to stick with these conversations, continue to spark and advocate for consistent conversations around racial and gender issues, especially through my art. 

Video feature on the Oracles of Iowa City project by Jack Brooks, City Channel 4. The Oracles of Iowa City was coordinated by the Center of Afrofuturist Studies at Public Space One and artists Antoine Williams and Donté K. Hayes. Jill was the lead muralist for this project.

What tips might you have for artists who want to dive into community work?

Tips I told myself..

."GO FOR IT!" Don't worry about what you don't have, use what you do have and start right where you are! Document your work consistently and listen, observe and be teachable/coachable.

I will share the realest advice I received from an artist I deeply respect and who walks the walks. "No matter your practice, if you want to prosper (on an internal or external level) connect with your community." What that looks like for each person, will be different and boundaries are very important in these connections. In the past, I had avoided getting out into community work in my practice for many, many years and as soon as I honestly put this advice into action, many positive changes occurred in my life and practice. 

What tips might you have for communities to support artists?

These are my beliefs, that I practice. I pay close attention to the ratio of the artists I am supporting. I intentionally research unknown, grass roots, marginalized artists of color and gender and artists who are living and working with disabilities. I buy local and I belong to a local print club. I collaborate on projects with local artists and I outsource to local artists. I do all these things first before going outside of the Des Moines community to the greater region or Nationally. If anyone wants to practice any of these tips, I feel like that would be a rewarding thing. 

Mural Commission for Disability Rights Iowa, oil on interior wall, 126 square feet, 666 Walnut St, Des Moines, Iowa. Photo credit: Emanart Photography.

What motto or creed do you live by?

Hard work is it's own reward. A labor is worth their hire. Everyone has their own cross to bear. I remind myself it is ok for things to not be ok sometimes. To make my Father in Heaven and my ancestors proud, as often as possible. 

What upcoming projects should we know about?

Oil on American for Disabilities Act in Braille, page 121. Photo courtesy of Jill Wells Art. View more of Jill’s Braille Art Series here, which is a partnership with Iowa Department For The Blind and Friends of the Library for the Blind and Print Disabled.

To learn more and keep up-to-date with her projects and practice, connect with Jill on Instagram and Facebook, and visit her artist website (accessibility upgrades to site coming in 2022). And be sure to connect with her Artist X Advocacy Mentorship program on Instagram.

Oracles of Iowa City, Iowa City, Iowa, 2021. Read a blog Jill wrote about the impacts of this project here.

Like learning about the ins and outs of being a community artist or a community arts leader? Check out interviews with artists Akwi Nji, Catherine Reinhart, Jordan Brooks, Reinaldo Correa, Kristin M Roach, and Rami Mannan, and interviews with community arts leaders Amber Danielson, Allison McGuire, Andy McGuire, and Jennifer Brockpahler.

Have a phenomenal community artist or an inspiring artist leader to suggest? Comment below or email jennifer@whatsgoodproject.com.

artist insight, community, creativity, For the Common Good, tips, interviewJennifer DrinkwaterblogComment