We all decorate our homes with different art and visuals that are specific to our travels and experiences. And, if you’re anything like me, you love seeing what kinds of art people collect. This blog gives you a sneak peek at What’s On Your Walls.

Fellow Creative Ambassador, radio personality and celebrity media coach Dyana Williams’ art collection is something serious. Dyana doesn't just have art on her walls; she has an entire art collection hanging on her walls.

Her home is adorned with traces of her travels and stories of her history. I went to Dyana’s house with fellow Insider Laiya St. Clair to chat and get footage of her art; however, what I got was so much more than that. I got an art lesson by a great collector. She walked us around and told stories of her collection piece by piece. The pieces I chose showcase a diverse view of what’s on her walls - from fellow Philadelphia native Andrew Turner to her very own daughter.

Here is just a glimpse into her collection. I also sat down with her for a Q&A. Check it out below.

Q&A

I've been a long time admirer of you and your journey. Can you tell everyone what you do?

Who is Dyana Williams? A passionate Afro-Rican woman, daughter, mother of three, relative, friend and citizen of planet Earth who loves the Creator and lives life to its fullest. I am present in each moment! I truly enjoy the various endeavors that I engage in.

As a broadcaster, I am currently on the air at 100.3 WRNB-FM, Radio One Philadelphia, where co-host, Soulful Sunday (10am to 3pm) with Derrick Sampson. I have been a guest commentator for TV One’s critically acclaimed NAACP Image Award winning series, Unsung and co-executive produced the Teddy Pendergrass episode. Via my company, Influence Entertainment, I am a celebrity strategist who works with high profile individuals to assist them with their public personas, development and achieving their full potential. I write a monthly column called Insights & Empowerment for Frequency Magazine and finally, I am a dedicated music advocate, having founded the International Association of African-American Music Foundation, a Pennsylvania based non-profit music advocacy organization.

You've recently been named a 2012 Philly 360 Creative Ambassador. Congrats! Can you tell us what that means to you?

I’m a native New Yorker, who was raised in the Bronx and Harlem; however, I have lived in Philly for many years. While I own where I was born and raised, I have come to truly love Philadelphia - with its diverse people, unique communities and definitive cultural landscape.

It is a distinct honor to have been named a Creative Ambassador for Philly 360 in my adopted hometown. I appreciate the great job Patricia Washington, Kyleen Shaw and Sarah Janiszewski of the GPTMC (Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation and Philly 360) are engaged in. Thrilled and very proud to be part of the new vanguard of ambassadors reppin’ for our grand cultural mecca! Years ago when I was on the air at WDAS, I coined the phrase, City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. It is now a widely used term to describe what has become my home sweet home. As an official Creative Ambassador now, I plan to continue my mission to let the world to know what a spectacular place Philly is!

You have a beautiful, extensive original art collection. What made you want to collect and which piece is your favorite?

As long as I can recall, I’ve always had an affinity for art. I started collecting when I was 15 with an original painting from Gabriel DaSilva. I remember the incredible impression left upon me after seeing the photographic exhibition, Harlem On My Mind as a teenager. In particular, the images of James Van Der Zee, and Gordon Parks (who many years later would become a dear friend) spurred my interest in art.

The late collector Paul Jones, taught me a great deal about art, as has Mercer Redcross, owner of the October Galley (from whom I have purchased many pieces), as well as Beverly Dawson and Pam Brown at ArtJaz. Over the years, I have become friends with some gifted artists - whose work I proudly own such as, Verna Hart, Leroy Campbell, Richard Watson, quilter Cindy Cephas and Amalia Amaki, who created one of my favorite treasures Bessie Box.

While my collection is spread amongst my homes in Penn Valley, Philly and New Orleans, I still have a desire to add. I especially support Philly artist’s work, and have Ellen Powell Tiberino, James Dupree, Andrew Turner, Sam Byrd and Whitney Thomas in my collection. I just picked up a fabulous Jimi Hendrix piece by Mark Gaines and am looking for a special Stacey Wilson!

How does Philadelphia inspire you and what you do?

Philadelphia has incredible, breathtakingly beautiful murals all over. In fact, Philly has the distinction of having more public art than any other city in the United States. I am supremely inspired when I see the remarkable works of art throughout our region.

Where can people learn more about you? (Besides here.)

A dear friend of mine recently told me that they checked me out on the internet and said that I am very Googlable - influencentertainment.com and rnbphilly.com.

When I decided to write a blog on art for Black History Month, I immediately thought of all the talented current artists I know just in Philly - like fellow Creative Ambassadors Rah Crawford  and Serena Saunders, Willis Nomo, Joshua Mays, Taqiy Muhammad, Lillian Cotton and Cathey White, just to name a few.

However, I felt like I needed to go back and dig deeper into Philly's past artists - such as Barkley Hendricks, Ellen Powell Tiberino and Richard Watson. (Check out the video at the end of the post.)

I still wanted to dig a littler deeper and go even further into Philly's art past. So, I came across  quite a few artists and narrowed it down to my favorite five. 

Romare Bearden

1911 – 1988

Bearden, who is a favorite of mine, is known for his collages and montages filled with metaphors of his past. They are funky and odd, but so magical. He had many jobs over the years, including being an editorial cartoonist for the Baltimore Afro-American. He was also known as a respected writer and an eloquent spokesman on artistic and social issues of the day.

Insider facts: His work has appeared on the covers of Fortune and Time magazines. He also designed costumes for the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater.

Horace Pippin

1888 – 1946

Pippin was called a folk artist, because he had no formal art training. His work was quite graphic, as he did not use any shading in his pieces. Pippin's work appeals to me. His use of bold color was something that drew me in. He is from West Chester and went to art classes at the Barnes Foundation. He also has a piece of art hanging in The Philadelphia Museum of Art. 

Insider fact: He completed his first painting when he was 43 years old. 

Allan Randall Freelon 

1895-1960

Freelon has an impressive resume when it comes to his studies. He had a full scholarship to Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art (now the University of the Arts), also studied at University of Pennsylvania, The Barnes Foundation and Tyler School of Art. His work is made up of landscapes, nudes and still-lifes using mostly conte crayon, etching, oil and charcoal. 

Insider fact: In 1921, Freelon was accepted as the first African American member of the Philadelphia Print Club. During the same year, he also became the first African American to supervise all art instruction in the Philadelphia public school system, a position occupied primarily by white Americans at that particular time.

Dox Thrash

1893–1965

Thrash had dreams of being an artist. After working random jobs, he came to Philadelphia. While working as janitor, he continued to create art. He was later recognized as a master printmaker. His work depicted African American strength and other positive attributes as well as struggles and challenges in his prints. In his later years, he mentored young creative minds with their craft. 

Insider fact: He invented the process of Carborundum Mezzotint, a printmaking technique.

Henry Ossawa Tanner 

1874-1946

Tanner is also another artist who I’m fond of. His earlier work is known for more portrait art, while in his later years, he took a more religious approach. His pieces draw you in with his balance of colors, lights and shadows. He struggled with racism in the city and his lack of acceptance. So, in search of being accepted,  he moved to France and remained there for the rest of his years.

Insider fact: On a short return visit to the US in 1893, Tanner painted his most famous work, The Banjo Lesson, in Philadelphia.

Insider tip: If you didn’t know, PAFA is hosting a Henry Ossawa Tanner exhibit until April 15, 2012. During the run of the exhibition, visitors can enjoy evening hours on Wednesdays (10 am - 8 pm) and free admission on Sundays.

Zoe Strauss: Ten Years

January 14 - April 22, 2012

Philadelphia Museum of Art

26th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway

I remember DJ Cosmo Baker mentioning about six months ago that his sister would be exhibiting at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I thought that was really cool considering it’s not every day that artists you know exhibit at a place like the Philadelphia Museum of Art. But, this isn’t just any artist either. Photographer Zoe Strauss, who is the founder of Philadelphia Public Art Project, Whitney Biennial participant and published photographer, will be exhibiting 150 of her compelling pieces of photography that have been taken over the past decade. The exhibit will also include slideshows showinging more of her imagery.

Zoe says that her ambition is “to create an epic narrative that reflects the beauty and struggle of everyday life.” And that she does. From 2001-2010, she would host exhibits under the abandoned urban zone under I-95. She sold and signed her work for $5.  Her portraits are gritty and real, and they depict the struggles of everyday people and places in our city.

To accompany the exhibit, she is also displaying her work on billboards across the city to further tell her story and to extend the exhibit beyond the Museum. She says, “The billboards will exhibit photos without text, branding or logos. They effectively eliminate 53 spaces available for commercial advertising.”

I’m personally excited to see the progress and journey of another fellow artist who has had great success with her craft. I can’t wait to see the exhibit and experience our city through her eyes. Hopefully you’ll find some time to check it out too!

Insider Tip: Don’t forget to look out for her work on billboards across the city. You can find the originals and the accompanying billboard here - Billboards.