Profiles of Hope: How cancer survivor Wilhelmina Obatola Grant brings awareness to breast cancer through art

Wilhelmina Obatola Grant is a resident of Harlem, mixed-media assemblage artist, and breast cancer survivor. She uses objects she finds to create art and uses it to bring awareness to breast cancer and violence against women.

In this article she talks about how she got started as an artist and how her art has helped her deal with cancer.

Q: Can you explain the type of art you create?

A: I do mixed media assemblage art using "found objects." I work with any items or materials I find. A piece might be made up of paint, wood, plastics, metals, and pictures. I pick up clean garbage, gadgets, parts from broken electronics and house-wares (like portions of lamps). I also find things on the road-side, in the park, vacant lots, construction sites (my favorite), dumpsters and on the sidewalk. Objects can also come from second-hand stores.

Q: How has your art helped you in dealing with this disease?

A: There are about forty pieces in my collection about my experience with cancer. They cover topics like early detection, surviving the disease and advocacy. My art gets people to talk about something that normally gets pushed under the rug. I feel like I am doing them a service. It has helped me deal with my disease. It's good to know that I can help other women realize that they can live a long life if breast cancer is detected early.

Q: How did you get started creating Assemblage Art?

A: I started making Assemblage Art in the summer of 2024 at age 51. I was admiring some large pieces about Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks behind jail bars. The artist, Jeremiah Kyle Drake, who was also a friend, offered to show me how to start. My first piece was called Crown of Thorns at St. Ann's. It was a combination of a picture that I took in St. Ann's Church, some beads, a crucifix, floral paper, some rusty wire and wood. I also found a five dollar bill during that hunt - I still have it in my photo album.

Q: Where did you get the idea to display your art to promote breast cancer awareness?

A. Jeremiah is a mixed media assemblage artist and a cultural animator which means he uses his art to teach and inspire people, talk about social issues and help make change. For example, he has used his art to get free plastic and dental surgery for abused women. He also helped change Medicaid laws so people who are abused from domestic violence can get financial help for care and treatment.

Jeremiah said that I could also link my art to a cause like he did. The only one that I could think of was breast cancer awareness because of my experience. I started collecting things to tell a story and "paint pictures with objects."

Before long, I had eighteen pieces of breast cancer related works. I called the public library to ask if I could show my art for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 2024. The first few phone calls did not produce any results. I finally reached the head librarian at the 115th Street Branch Library. I told her what I was trying to do and she liked my work. She allowed me to do my first show. It was a solo display called Celebrating Strength, Perseverance and Triumph Over Challenges of Breast Cancer in October 2024. I have now done four solo shows and participated in over sixteen group shows.

Read more about Wilhelmina Obatola Grant by clicking the links below:

Profiles of Hope are health testimonials with Harlem community members written by HHPC and reviewed by our Health Advisory Board.