Meet the Juror

Anisa Olufemi M. (she/they) is a curator, writer and cultural worker dedicated to amplifying the work of underrepresented emerging artists—within and without arts institutions. Pulling at common threads between mother lands and chocolate cities, Anisa’s contributions as a cultural worker seek to illuminate, amend, and reimagine Black life pre- and post-emancipation. Their independent curatorial projects are often underpinned by critical fabulation that ponders such mother lands, and the possibilities of what they theorize as The Black Pastoral.

Looking to the South and the Caribbean, Anisa’s research is seeded by ancestral and contemporary Black cultural productions—in particular, those that center pleasure, caretaking, and faith. They are a co-recipient of Washington Project for the Arts' Wherewithal Research Grant (2023) and 3Arts' Ignite Fund (2022) for the development of The Gospel Truth: Sonic Architectures of Chicago House and Go-Go Music. To date, Anisa has mounted exhibitions in galleries, museums, and alternative art spaces in Washington, DC and Chicago, and presented research at various institutions including the Cincinnati Art Museum and the University of Oregon.

Anisa lives and works in Washington, D.C., and currently serves as the Director of Programs and Curator at Hamiltonian Artists.

Each year, the Wills Creek Committee champions this competition by selecting an accomplished and notable juror, soliciting sponsorship funds, and giving time, talent and commitment to the exhibition. The following are part of the team – thank you for all you do to support us.