Acquaetta Williams
Acquaetta Williams grew up in Los Angeles in the 1970s as the youngest of six children in a disciplined household where order was prized, yet optimism and enthusiasm carried her forward. While her childhood was marked by austerity, the cultural vibrancy of Los Angeles gave her permission to be curious about herself and the wider world. She initially pursued fashion design but found her calling when she encountered glassblowing at UCLA. The roar of the furnaces, the orange glow of molten glass, and the sheer intensity of the medium captivated her, setting her on a lifelong creative path.
After graduating, she worked in Beverly Hills while experimenting with tie-dye to keep her creativity alive. A pivotal meeting with Harvey Littleton, widely regarded as the father of the American Studio Glass movement, led her to pursue an MFA at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His mentorship encouraged her to reach beyond functionality and embrace glass as a medium for storytelling, imagination, and resilience.
Williams’ practice is informed by a wide spectrum of influences: the kaleidoscopic resilience of the Watts Towers; the radical simplicity of Robert Rauschenberg’s “white paintings”; and the Japanese design philosophy captured in How to Wrap Five Eggs by Hideyuki Oka. These experiences inspired her to push glass beyond its traditional role as vessel, embracing assemblage, collage, and painting to explore identity, memory, and human sensitivity.
Her works are layered like city walls, plastered with posters, announcements, and fragments weathered by time—what she calls “travelings.” Natural materials such as aluminum, copper, and glass carry both physical and symbolic weight: their corrosion, light, and color become metaphors for fragility, joy, and spiritual light.
Today, Williams defines herself as an artist committed to freedom, discovery, and dialogue. Her assemblages serve as bridges between brittleness and fluidity, meditative quiet and raw intensity. She draws inspiration from African imagery and spiritual traditions, seeking to open conversations about culture, history, and power.
For Williams, the mission is clear: to create works that resonate with intellectual, physical, and spiritual meaning, while remaining true to her resilience, optimism, and joy. Above all, she treasures the good memories and affirmations that continue to fuel her journey.
