Check Out Robin Wilson’s Story

At 39, Robin Wilson is a griot and an artist archivist, who preserves cultural histories through literary and visual storytelling. “The narratives that I share reflect my experience as an African American woman and my community.”

Eighteen-years ago, Robin first stepped into the Detroit art scene as a poet. She participated in poetry open mic nights and performed at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. In her early 20’s, Robin’s first children’s book “Mama Got Rhythm and Daddy Got Rhyme” was accepted for publication. Her book was illustrated by artist Mario Moore, who was then a student at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. “I continued to do book readings and signings, but I stepped away from the Detroit arts community to focus on community literacy outreach work in my hometown of Inkster,” Robin said. “I also continued to write and to support other artists, but I made a conscious decision to focus my attention on serving within my community and advocating for family literacy.”

In 2021, Robin says her life went through another transition that led her back to her artist roots. One week shy of her thirty-seventh birthday, she had an ischemic stroke. At the time, she taught first grade scholars at the Foreign Language Immersion and Cultural Studies School in Detroit. “It came as a shock to me and those around me. I was relatively healthy. I worked out daily. I was vegan at the time. I am not a smoker. I have never had high blood pressure. So, while I understood the seriousness of my condition, once my expressive speech returned within forty-eight hours and I was released from the hospital, I hit the ground running. I had a sense of urgency to do the things that I felt most called to do.”

Later that same year, a new edition of her children’s book was published by Bristow Publishing in New York City. The following year, she became a United States Fulbright Hays GPA Brazil Fellow and studied Afro-Brazilian culture and created bilingual decodable text for Detroit Public Community Schools District. “My research project was focused on increasing representation in early grade bilingual text.”

In July 2024, Robin’s second children’s book “Jazz-A-Bet: An Original Jazz Alphabet” will be published by Editora Ogum Press in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The picture book will be published as a bilingual text in English and Portuguese. “I grew up in a musical household surrounded by art,” Robin said. “For more than fifteen years, I have been writing and telling stories. I am excited that I now have an opportunity to share my work with children and families globally.”

She says this opportunity was made possible because of the relationships that she built through her fellowship experience. It is also how she became connected to the literary arts community in Brazil. Her newest children’s picture book is being illustrated by Afro-Brazilian artist Rebeca Silva. “It is a rhythmic alphabet poem about jazz.”

While her writing career is on an international trajectory, Robin says it is important to her that she remains connected to her hometown and local community. “I have other stories that have not been published yet. I would like to collaborate with other local artists for future creative projects.”

In addition to writing for children, Robin’s storytelling extends to visual artwork such as her handcrafted greeting cards and crocheted works of art. “I create collage, abstract, and fiber artwork. As a child, I met Faith Ringgold at a library book signing that my aunt took me to. I still have the book that she signed for me and a picture of her at the signing. I have followed her work and career.” Robin says she is inspired by artists such as Faith Ringgold, Judy Bowman, Basil Kincaid, Evita Tezeno, and April Anue. “Their use of color and narrative in their works inspire me to explore different approaches to my art practice.”

In 2022, a fellow artist and friend invited her to attend the Detroit Fine Arts Breakfast Club. It was there where she met other creatives and found a larger audience for her work. “My greeting cards began to sell at the art auctions. Attending art auctions was a first for me, but it gave me more opportunities to connect with fellow artists and buyers.”

Two years later, Robin’s handcrafted and printed greeting card designs can be found at The Museum of Contemporary Arts Detroit, The Ellen Kayrod Gallery Gift Shop, and The Amber Collective in Detroit. She has also designed custom thank you and anniversary cards for the Inn on Ferry Street, a boutique hotel in midtown Detroit.

In December 2023, she joined The Amber Collective as an artist and vendor. The collective is composed of dynamic Detroit-based women artists such as Dianetta Dye, Patricia Kabore, Adwoa Muwzea, Dae Gordon, Kay Willingham, Carla White, Ida Hawkins and Tia Nichols. “We support one another and share creative opportunities that we come across within our community.”

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There is rarely a straight path to success. As a writer and visual artist, my path has come with twists and turns along the way. I have never had a literary agent to represent my work. Still, I have found my stride. I have written feature articles for various publications. Currently, I write for Career Mastered Magazine, a quarterly women’s publication. The book publishers that have taken on my work have come through referrals and relationship building. My publishers have been traditional Black-owned presses that have seen value in my stories, and I am thankful.