Installation view of Highlights from the Intuit Art Museum Collection

Join Milwaukee-based artist Della Wells at Intuit Art Museum for an engaging professional development workshop exploring the power of narrative, symbolism, and mixed-media collage. Participants will learn about Wells’ artistic practice, spend time in the gallery practicing slow looking with Yes, we will find peace, my sister, a mixed-media collage commissioned for the Intuit Art Museum Collection, and engage in a hands-on collage activity designed to develop storytelling techniques and the intentional use of symbolism for classroom lesson plans.

Open to Pre‑K–12 educators of all disciplines, this session offers practical strategies to foster creativity, cultural understanding, and critical thinking through art. Registration is required.

About Della Wells
Della Wells (b. 1951, Milwaukee, WI) is a self-taught artist whose work is rooted in storytelling and imaginative worlds. She developed a narrative style centered on an invented place she calls Mamboland, where Black women hold power and shape hopeful futures. Known primarily for her collages, Wells also works in drawing, painting, and quilt textiles, often incorporating folklore and subtle references to the civil rights struggle. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in major collections such as the Milwaukee Art Museum, Chazen Museum of Art, and Intuit Art Museum. She has illustrated two children’s books, inspired the play Don’t Tell Me I Can’t Fly, and received the City of Milwaukee Artist of the Year Award in 2016.

Agenda:

1:00–1:15 PM
Welcome & Introduction
Get to know the group and set the stage for an inspiring creative session.

1:15–1:45 PM
Artist Talk: Della Wells
Della shares her artistic journey and the story behind Yes, we will find peace, my sister.

1:45–2:00 PM
Materials & Techniques Overview
Learn about the collage materials and techniques that will guide your hands-on practice.
2:00–2:45 PM
Hands-On Collage Activity
Dive into creating your own collages, experimenting with narrative, symbolism, and storytelling.

2:45–3:00 PM
Share & Reflect
Share your work with the group and reflect on how these strategies can inspire your classroom practice.

3:00–4:00 PM
Guided Educator Tour of Intuit Art Museum
Participate in a guided tour designed specifically for educators, highlighting key works from the Intuit Art Museum collection. The tour will model inquiry-based looking strategies, offer contextual insights, and explore ways to connect self-taught and contemporary art to classroom curriculum and student engagement.