Word Wall/ Pared Palabras
Designed to activate the long corridor
walls between WPCA’s two main galleries,
Word Wall/Pared Palabras is a long-term
curatorial initiative that celebrates
intersectionality in the arts and the artists
who embody it, with a focus on weaving
the written word with visual
and performance art.
Pay it No Mind (June 13-July 3)
EXHIBITION DATES:
June 13th – July 4th, 2025
The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969, marked the beginning of a long liberation movement for our LGBTQ+ community—a struggle that continues today amid ongoing threats. The uprising began with a series of police raids and igniting riots at the Stonewall Inn, a queer bar in New York City, beginning a broader movement for queer rights and visibility.
Among the key leaders who emerged were Black and Brown trans women, most notably Marsha P. Johnson.
A beloved icon in New York City, Marsha was known for her care, motherly energy, and strong sense of self–determination. When asked about the “P” in her name, she famously replied, “The ‘P’ stands for ‘Pay it no mind’”—a response that dismissed interrogations about her gender identity and asserted her right to define herself on her own terms.
Pay It No Mind centers themes of body and reclamation, celebrating Trans and Queer artists making a life in the Midwest during Pride History Month.
Trans and queers bodies are neither arenas of contention nor battlefields– they are sacred spaces that belong to ourselves. By the power vested in WE, the T and the Q are here, and here indefinitely.
Address Undisclosed (May 17- June 7)
May 17th – June 7th
Reception: May 24th 6-8pm
Address Undisclosed honors Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by highlighting artists whose work explores the balance between preserving and releasing aspects of identity within diasporic and ever-shifting spaces. Co-curated by Ck Ledesma, @biyayaart and @http.ritaj the exhibition centers on cultural memory and transformation, revealing how individuals seek both physical and emotional sanctuary amid voluntary or forced relocation.
Through visual art, storytelling, and shared experience, the featured artists define what “home” means on their own terms.
Al-Nisa (April 12-May 3)
Al-Nisa features Arab and Muslim women artists from the greater Milwaukee area, honoring and amplifying their voices during Arab American heritage Month. The exhibition highlights the importance of their creative expression and its role int heir lives. Through storytelling, art-making, food, and more, these artists reflect the richness and complexity of Arab and Muslim womanhood in the 21st century.
Notes of Native Daughters (February 28 - March 21)
The inaugural exhibition of WPCA’s latest project, Word Wall/Pared Palabras, Notes of Native Daughters, opens February 28 and runs through March 21. Designed to activate the long corridor walls between WPCA’s two main galleries, Word Wall/Pared Palabras is a long-term curatorial initiative that celebrates intersectionality in the arts and the artists who embody it, with a focus on weaving the written word with visual and performance art.
Word Wall/ Pared Palabras inaugural exhibition Notes of Native Daughters honors Black Women and Femmes at the intersection of Black History Month and Women’s History Month, showcasing works by 10 local and regional artists: Nakeysha Roberts Washington, Kaena “Moss” Tucker, SunShine Raynebow, LaDasia Bryant, LaNia Sproles, Tia Richardson, Ellery Pascual, Fatima Laster, Portia Cobb, and Tayla Hart.
Born from a desire to honor, preserve, and amplify the work of creatives whose intersectionality is integral to their artistic process, Notes of Native Daughters offers a glimpse into the multifaceted nature of identity, exploring themes of roots, desire, resistance, joy, and the beauty of being a Black woman or femme.