Photograph by Barret Swager





“I see the artist’s canvas, as a mirror that does not lie. The image is free of my own perspective, and reveals my raw emotion the artist alchemically transfers into the work .”

 Najee Wilson, 2019

A Timeline of...

Najee Wilson, a multi-disciplinary designer, artist, musician and fine art muse born in Charleston, South Carolina ,1987 who currently lives in  Brooklyn New York. Najee has always been drawn to creation that is spontaneous yet permanent, and marks a moment in time. The Body in its various forms over time is perhaps the most integral aspect to his work. Wilson is an alumni of The Savannah College of Art and Design, he studied Interior Design and Architecture. After leaving Savannah in 2009 he resided in Charleston before landing  in New York City in 2011. Najee works primarily as a Freelance Interior Designer, Product Designer and Costumer . His work can be seen in the pages of design publications , galleries ,and private homes across the world.  In 2016, while taking a break from the world of design,Wilson began writing and recording his first album. Lament Marathon is a Pop/R&B sonic expression of the emotional arc that one can experience following a dramatic series of life events.  During this time Najee recalled the muses he came to know during his tenure at SCAD. Finding intense comfort and focus in the body while maintaing a daily yoga, primal movement and distance running practice. Wilson transformed from In order to overcome debilitating shyness  and body dysmorphia he began posing for artists as a life model come fine art muse. Initially  for fellow artists and friends, then Institutions and even total strangers at  curated drink and draw events throughout New York City. The often silent collaboration between the artist and muse has fascinated Najee since he was a student himself in art school.

In 2017 Najee began correspondence with Kehinde Wiley via instagram after revisiting images taken he had taken while viewing his retrospective at the Brooklyn Museum. This lead to Najee, collaborating with Kehinde Wiley as muse for Wiley’s first large scale sculpture ,Rumors of War in 2019.
“I embrace deeply the meaning the sculpture in parts:, That all people,no matter race, creed,sexual orientation, color etc. deserve to be represented treated with dignity, honor and respect.  We must never forget That ALL LIVES MATTER.  

“Today we say yes to something that looks like us,” Kehinde Wiley, said at the unveiling of Rumors Of War in Times Square New York City. September 2019.