The Full Story
About
Brent Wiley received a B.A. from the University of Kansas, an M.F.A in Computer Animation from the Savannah College of Art and Design and an M.B.A from Bradley University. Preceding his academic career, Brent worked in animation-based industries such as Multimedia, Pre-Visualization, Commercials, Feature Films, and Game Cinematics. He worked primarily as a Technical Artist in these industries for over a decade. Wiley currently teaches at Bradley University and continues to conduct research in 3d animation. For his gallery sculpture work, he produces initial concepts using computer graphics.
Identity
I describe myself as a visual artist as opposed to a digital artist. My career background has been commercial in nature, but I have been working on individual sculptural works for the past 4 years through trial and error. I generally create work in order to inform, inspire, and spark greater interests in the subject matter being portrayed. In the creative process, I strive to learn about form and its change over time. Oftentimes, this is in the context of a story.
Mission
My overall objective in my personal gallery work is to build a greater awareness of the connection between Afro-Diasporans and continental Africans. As a result of the slave codes, the African American identity has especially experienced disconnect from continental culture, history and identity. Though there are some cultural ties still intact with African ethnic groups, the cultural awareness practiced now is a pale shadow compared to generations preceding the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Understandably, studies point toward the negative psychological effects for minorities who do not know about their ethnic identity. I argue that starting education with an ethnic origin that begins with slavery is a severely truncated history that should be expanded upon when it comes to Afro-Diasporans.
