Walls of Prophecy and Protest: William Walker and the Roots of a Revolutionary Public Art Movement

William "Bill" Walker is a renowned African American muralist from Chicago, known for his classical murals that depict African American historical figures, protest social injustice, and inspire imagination, love, respect, and community accountability. This handsome edition features thirty-five color images of his work.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 30 August 2019
Publisher: Northwestern University Press

Chicago boasts an impressive collection of African American street murals from the 1970s and 1980s, surpassing any other U.S. city. Among the notable muralists in Chicago is the legendary William "Bill" Walker (1927–2011), often likened to Diego Rivera by art historians. Francis OConnor, a renowned mural historian, hailed Walker as the most accomplished contemporary practitioner of the classical mural tradition, spanning from Giotto to Rivera. While his art reached a wide audience, Walker maintained a modest demeanor throughout his career and largely retreated from public attention after his retirement in 1989. Author Jeff W. Huebner had the privilege of meeting Walker in 1990 and conducted insightful interviews in 2008. These encounters serve as the foundation for Walls of Prophecy and Protest, a captivating narrative that delves into Walker's remarkable life and the profound impact he had on the community. This handsome edition showcases thirty-five color images of Walker's work, shedding light on the artist who played a pivotal role in creating Chicago's renowned Wall of Respect and producing numerous murals that celebrated African American historical figures, addressed social injustices, and fostered imagination, love, respect, and community accountability.

Weight: 790g
Dimension: 153 x 227 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780810140585