Rebuilding The Black Family
$2,500.00
Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
A quiet, taut dignity anchors this scene: a young Black swimmer in profile, poised against a white, sunlit background, his goggles resting like a promise around his neck. The painting’s pared composition — the figure filling the left half while a chain-link fence, lifeguard chair and a small, weathered sign occupy the right — creates a visible and emotional divide that feels deliberate rather than incidental. The artist renders skin with careful attention to warm highlights and cool depths, giving the sitter a strong, calm presence that resists being flattened into a stereotype or a symbol. The right side’s fence and the tiny, legible sign reading “Public Swimming Pool — White Only” introduce a historical weight without melodrama. The stilled umbrella and life ring behind the barrier feel both ordinary and charged, turning everyday pool equipment into testimony. Overall, the work balances intimacy and social memory: you see an individual with quiet resolve and, beside him, the structural reminder of exclusion. It’s a painting that holds both personal presence and public history in a single, composed moment.
The Artwork
About Public Swimming
Limited Edition 25 · 24x45 · Giclee On Paper \u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLimited Edition 25 Giclee' on Canvas Hand Embellished - Size 24"×45" $2,000\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLimited Edition 25 Giclle on Archival Paper deckled edge 24x45- $1,500\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e
Collector Details
What to Know About This Piece
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About the Collection
Kevin Williams (WAK) is known for his vibrant street art that blends urban culture with contemporary expressionism. His graffiti art and bold graphic designs capture the energy and emotional expression of the streets, transforming city walls into colorful murals that reflect modern life and pop culture. WAK’s work incorporates elements of abstract street art, combining mixed media techniques and social commentary art to explore themes of identity, power, and societal issues. Through his modern urban art, he bridges the gap between traditional graffiti and contemporary symbolism, creating pieces that resonate with the pulse of the city and the spirit of modern expression.
Artist Signature
Signed and documented
This piece is signed by the artist and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
Image Rights
Image copyright © 2026 by Kevin Williams (WAK).
Authorized Source
Authenticity & Documentation
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Limited-edition artwork includes a Certificate of Authenticity when one is issued by the artist, publisher, studio, or authorized source. Open-edition pieces may not include a certificate; this does not affect their authenticity. The Collection Shop sources artwork through artists, publishers, authorized distributors, galleries, and other approved channels. Any additional documentation included with this specific piece will be noted above.
Kevin A. Williams better known by the art moniker WAK, his initials backwards, is an American painter and businessman from Chicago’s Southside. He is one of the most celebrated figurative storytellers of this era with his collection of paintings being the most widely circulated urban fine art series in the world.At the age of 15, Kevin A. Williams started working as an artist, on Chicago’s Historic East 87th Street Black Business District, drawing and painting images for clothing boutiques and hair salons. At 19, he became a cosmetology illustrator for Soft Sheen hair products which eventually led to a commission from Alberto Culver USA, to create "Standing Appointment" which depicts 4 women under hair dryers, for their Motions hair care line. It is regarded the most popular art image in the history of the hair care industry. While developing his fine art line, Williams worked exclusively with the late Actor\Comedian Bernie Mac as his personal artist for over 15 years, creating over 20 original paintings, including a very important piece commissioned by the Actor\Comedian as a gift for Oprah Winfrey. The piece titled “Anointed Gift” was unveiled on Oprah’s televised 50th birthday celebration, and was regarded by her as “the most amazing gift”. This amazing gift currently hangs in the lobby of Winfrey’s Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. In November 2009, Williams was commissioned by the Professional Golf Association (PGA) to memorialize Ted Rhodes, John Shippen, Bill Spiller, the first African-American inductees to the PGA who were denied membership during their professional careers, along with honorary member, heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis. Williams also made history by becoming the 1st African American artist to have a painting to permanently hang in the PGA National Museum in Port St. Lucie, Fla. In April 2018 ,Williams was commissioned by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated to create a centerpiece for the newly renovated national headquarters in Chicago,Illinois. " The One" depicting the founding, legacy and continued life of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority..
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