Artolution: Art Through Crisis is a series of collaborative and interdisciplinary artwork created across refugee camps and crisis zones all over the world. Artist and organizer Max Frieder travelled with and helped grow this collection of art, all the way from areas such as Bangladesh and Ukraine, to be put on display at the United Nations in 2023, for the first time in the US at Fairfield University in 2024. This year, it comes to Wesleyan University, its second US university.
created by Rohingya, Syria, Afghan and South Sudanese Women, Hand Woven Bark Cloth and Acrylic
Founded in 2016 by two accomplished community artists, Artolution provides creative platforms for vulnerable communities to tell their stories and connect with others through collaborative art-making experiences including mural painting, building recycled interactive sculpturesing and performing. Artolution catalyzes the resilience of their participants through its versatile and unique collaborative interdisciplinary art-making process, and hires and trains local teaching artists to expand the reach of its dynamic educational arts programming in crisis-affected communities.
Max Frieder delivered a keynote address on February 18th, bringing to life the story of his foundation, as well as providing us with insight into how each piece here at Wes came to life. The works currently on display in Fisk Hall have been created, and continued to be developed, across a span of several years and thousands of miles. Many pieces began in one place and travelled with Max to other crisis zones, wherein artists and everyday participants of Max’s programs added to them, interweaving stories of resilience from across the world. Not only does their artwork provide invaluable creative outlets for those in crisis, but it also gives testament to their existence– something not taken for granted– and amplify their under-represented voices. Their art being here for the semester not only teaches Wesleyan students about the important of this work, but also, in turn, helps support the foundation to continue their work.
The exhibition will be display through the remainder of the spring 2026 semester. Learn more about Artolution here.