Karyn Olivier selected for Artist Commission:
‘I Didn’t Do It Alone’ memorial to honor Milwaukee trailblazer
The memorial titled ‘I Didn’t Do It Alone’ will honor several pivotal aspects of Phillips’ life of service and her fight for liberty, while highlighting the core of her lifelong efforts. Throughout her career, Phillips often stated, “I didn’t do it alone,” a reflection of her commitment to collective action.
The memorial will feature three key components: two stone architectural sections with figurative sculptures, a bronze desk, and a bronze chair. Six outward-facing figures will represent citizens, activists, and leaders who worked with Phillips for change. The linked-arm citizens symbolize the unity of the 200 days of open housing protests and stand as protectors of liberty, justice, and democracy – the ideals Phillips fought for.
The memorial’s classic Western architecture nods to democratic tradition, which honors our ideals and the citizens who work for the public good. The integration of the intimate office with the more traditional architecture highlights the importance of the personal in our politics.
Phillips’ partners-style desk, designed for face-to-face conversations, also reflects Phillips’ eagerness to listen to all. It will feature cast items, which may include a framed photo of Phillips and her husband W. Dale Phillips, a page from a housing ordinance, a desk nameplate, a phone, papers, folders, and more.
The desk’s empty seat acknowledges Phillips’ absence, but also serves as an invitation to challenge ourselves: What impact can we make? Visitors are encouraged to sit and interact at the desk, and over time, the natural patina formed by the oils of human touch will become a part of this memorial, mirroring the way Phillips felt the people were always a part of her work.
Philadelphia-based artist Karyn Olivier, born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, is well known for her public art installations. This year, she has participated in the Whitney Biennial (NY, NY), Prospect.6 Triennial (New Orleans, LA), and the Malta Biennale (Valletta, Malta). In 2025, Olivier will unveil an important memorial, commemorating more than 5,000 African Americans buried beneath a playground in Center City, Philadelphia at Bethel Burying Ground. Last year, Olivier presented her second solo show at Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, and in 2022 Olivier participated in Documenta 15 and installed a large permanent commission for Newark Airport’s Terminal A. Olivier is also a professor at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University, Philadelphia.
In the fall of 2023, the City of Milwaukee invited professional artists and artist teams across the country and Europe to submit their qualifications for the Vel R. Phillips Plaza Artist Commission Opportunity. The Art Committee team made up of 164 curators, artists, collectors, community members, and City staff, scored 60 projects and narrowed the selection to three finalists.
Artists were contracted with a Memorandum of Understanding, facilitating a comprehensive site visit. This phase included the development of a detailed outline for the proposal timeline, reporting schedule, and procedures for proposal submissions and subsequent interviews. The Art Committee then chose Olivier as the final artist.
Olivier will work closely with the City on various aspects crucial to the project’s success, including crafting a timeline, submitting engineering plans to secure necessary permits, and coordinating the shipping and installation logistics. The Art Committee will help facilitate community connections as Olivier refines her design, and finalizes images and objects to present.
The final artwork will be installed and unveiled to the public in 2026.