December 18, 2024 - July 15, 2025

The influences of Philadelphia artist Tyler Wilkinson are numerous. He finds inspiration from wide-ranging sources that include minimalism to 3D printing technology to the music of Prince, Alice Coltrane, and Sun Ra. For his installation at Philadelphia International Airport, Wilkinson presents a vignette that evokes the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, where the artist lives and works.

Wilkinson fabricated a modular totem, a giant eagle, and a manhole cover inscribed with his personal logo by using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printing. With this method, color is the material. The color is integral and not applied, which is an essential distinction for Wilkinson. The eagle is a reference to the Philadelphia Eagles mascot, as well as an homage to Thundering Wings, a sculpture by artist Nathan Jackson of the Tlingit tribe. However, in contrast to Wilkinson’s work, Jackson’s process aligns with native totem-making traditions; his sculpture is carved from solid wood and the painted decoration rests only on the surface.

Wilkinson seeks to find the abject beauty in the world. He collaborated with avant-garde designer, Chloe Kucirka, to create apparel inspired by the detritus found in the streets of Kensington. The larger-than-life portrait inside the case depicts the artist wearing one of these garments in which architectural elements are incorporated into the clothing design. Bird-deterrent spikes become epaulets and the modular headgear mimics the Tricorn hats worn by colonial soldiers. The athletic shorts feature the graphic signage of a local bodega. Wilkinson fills out the rest of the installation with pigeons, litter, and signage to create a work that blurs the boundaries between person and environment.