Adrianne Williams is a celebrated author and multidisciplinary visual artist with a seasoned presence in Calgary’s arts community. She has contributed to Calgary’s cultural landscape through projects with BUMP and through artist-in-residence roles at Art Central (2008) with the Allied Arts Foundation and the Ledge Gallery at the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts (2009).
Williams’ work is vibrant and thought-provoking. Her paintings, installations, and video works explore her Caribbean ancestry, often engaging with themes of pop culture and cultural collision. Her art lives on the walls of private homes, across the city through public murals, and comes to life through live participatory works at community events. While deeply grounded in Calgary, Williams has exhibited her work nationally across Canada and internationally in Italy and Spain, as well as through virtual exhibitions.
“As a painter, the work can often feel lonely and isolating, but finding a strong sense of community has changed everything for me,” Williams reflects on her practice. “That support has opened doors to many opportunities, allowing me to step into the realm of public art. My practice has become more socially conscious and has allowed me to create work that connects deeply with people and the spaces that we share.”
Works by Adrianne Williams can be viewed on February 3 at The GRAND, alongside fellow artists from the community, in a collective celebration and remembrance of Charles Daniels.
About Charles Daniels:
In 1914, Charles Daniels, a Black man, was denied access to the seat he had purchased on the main floor of the Sherman Grand Theatre (now The GRAND) when he arrived to see King Lear. He was instructed to sit in the “coloured section” on the balcony, rather than the seat he had purchased.
Daniels refused this treatment and hired a lawyer to sue the theatre, making his case one of the earliest documented civil rights challenges in Alberta. When the lawsuit came before the court, neither the defendants nor the theatre’s lawyers appeared, and Daniels won by default. A judge set aside the decision shortly after, giving Sherman another chance to pursue the case, but there is no record of the case going to trial, and its outcome remains unclear.
Daniels’ actions made him an advocate for Black dignity and civil rights, and his story holds a significant place in Calgary’s history.
At this moment, The GRAND has established the Charles Daniels Committee, led by Cheryl Foggo, Wakefield Brewster, and Lisa LaTouche. The committee supports meaningful relationships with Black artists and Black audiences across the city.
Learn more about Charles Daniels in this article from The Sprawl.
