Nationally acclaimed artist selected for Artist Commission at Vel R. Phillips Plaza
‘I Didn’t Do It Alone’ memorial to honor Milwaukee trailblazer
MILWAUKEE – The Department of City Development (DCD) is proud to announce Karyn Olivier, a nationally acclaimed artist, has been chosen for the commission of a public artwork at the Vel R. Phillips Plaza. Olivier’s permanent memorial installation, titled ‘I Didn’t Do It Alone,’ will honor Milwaukee politician, attorney, jurist, and civil rights activist, Vel R. Phillips.
DCD is commissioning the original public art installation, which will serve as a creative representation of Vel R. Phillips’ work in breaking down social and cultural barriers for women, and women of color, in the City of Milwaukee, throughout the State of Wisconsin, and around the United States. According to Monument Lab, only 6% of public artworks in the U.S. are of women, and even fewer are of women of color.
The memorial titled ‘I Didn’t Do It Alone’ will honor several pivotal aspects of Phillips’ life of service and her fight for liberty, while highlighting the core of her lifelong efforts. Throughout her career, Phillips often stated, “I didn’t do it alone,” a reflection of her commitment to collective action.
“The Vel R. Phillips memorial reminds Milwaukee of the transformative power of unity, commitment to justice, and expanding liberties,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said. “‘I Didn’t Do It Alone’ honors not only her remarkable contributions but also serves as an inspiration to continue to fight for a mission that Vel R. Phillips dedicated her life and career towards.”
The memorial will feature three key components: two stone architectural sections with figurative sculptures, a bronze desk, and a bronze chair. Six outward-facing figures will represent citizens, activists, and leaders who worked with Phillips for change. The linked-arm citizens symbolize the unity of the 200 days of open housing protests and stand as protectors of liberty, justice, and democracy – the ideals Phillips fought for.
The memorial’s classic Western architecture nods to democratic tradition, which honors our ideals and the citizens who work for the public good. The integration of the intimate office with the more traditional architecture highlights the importance of the personal in our politics.
Phillips’ partners-style desk, designed for face-to-face conversations, also reflects Phillips’ eagerness to listen to all. It will feature cast items, which may include a framed photo of Phillips and her husband W. Dale Phillips, a page from a housing ordinance, a desk nameplate, a phone, papers, folders, and more.
The desk’s empty seat acknowledges Phillips’ absence, but also serves as an invitation to challenge ourselves: What impact can we make? Visitors are encouraged to sit and interact at the desk, and over time, the natural patina formed by the oils of human touch will become a part of this memorial, mirroring the way Phillips felt the people were always a part of her work.
Philadelphia-based artist Karyn Olivier, born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, is well known for her public art installations. This year, she has participated in the Whitney Biennial (NY, NY), Prospect.6 Triennial (New Orleans, LA), and the Malta Biennale (Valletta, Malta). In 2025, Olivier will unveil an important memorial, commemorating more than 5,000 African Americans buried beneath a playground in Center City, Philadelphia at Bethel Burying Ground. Last year, Olivier presented her second solo show at Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, and in 2022 Olivier participated in Documenta 15 and installed a large permanent commission for Newark Airport’s Terminal A. Olivier is also a professor at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University, Philadelphia.
“I’m very excited to have this opportunity to create a public work for the Vel R. Phillips Plaza,” Artist Karyn Olivier said. “Vel’s legacy is so inspiring—one that reminds us of the values found in persistence, hard work, and unflagging optimism. This installation is meant to honor Vel and her accomplishments on our behalf. Just as importantly, my intention is to inspire all of us to carry on where Vel left off.”
In the fall of 2023, the City of Milwaukee invited professional artists and artist teams across the country and Europe to submit their qualifications for the Vel R. Phillips Plaza Artist Commission Opportunity. The Art Committee team made up of 16 curators, artists, collectors, community members, and City staff, scored 60 projects and narrowed the selection to three finalists.
Artists were contracted with a Memorandum of Understanding, facilitating a comprehensive site visit. This phase included the development of a detailed outline for the proposal timeline, reporting schedule, and procedures for proposal submissions and subsequent interviews. The Art Committee then chose Olivier as the final artist.
“This brilliant artwork reflects an important part of our city’s history and will enhance Milwaukee’s downtown landscape,” District 4 Alderman Robert Bauman said. “I look forward to the unveiling of ‘I Didn’t Do It Alone,’ a powerful memorial that generations can enjoy for years to come.”
Olivier will work closely with the City on various aspects crucial to the project’s success, including crafting a timeline, submitting engineer plans to secure necessary permits, and coordinating the shipping and installation logistics. The Art Committee will help facilitate community connections as Olivier refines her design, and finalizes images and objects to present. The final artwork will be installed and unveiled to the public in 2026.
“‘I Didn’t Do It Alone’ honors the great Vel R. Phillips and her belief that we must work together to achieve justice and equality,” District 6 Alderwoman and Milwaukee Arts Board Chair Milele A. Coggs said. “Her legacy as a trailblazing leader and advocate reminds us all of our responsibility to do what is right and fight for a better, more inclusive community.”
“‘I Didn’t Do It Alone’ celebrates the legacy of Vel R. Phillips and invites the community to reflect on her impact, while inspiring future generations to continue the mission towards a more inclusive society,” Mike Phillips, son of Vel R. Phillips and Art Committee Chair, said. “Milwaukee is home to the best contemporary public art collections in the nation, and Karyn Olivier’s work will further enrich downtown with a vibrant testament to Vel R. Phillips’ vision.”
The all-inclusive budget for the Artist Commission is $600,000. The funding, deriving from TID 110 (Vel R. Phillips and Michigan), was approved by the Common Council in late 2022. The Milwaukee Arts Board will examine preliminary designs on October 8.
City of Milwaukee leaders celebrated the grand opening of the Vel R. Phillips Plaza in June. The Plaza offers several public amenities, including a garden, informational kiosks, a future Streetcar extension that will run through the Plaza, and a Milwaukee County Connect 1 East-West Bus Rapid Transit station. The Plaza’s food and beverage vendor is expected to begin operations in 2025.
For further information on this project, visit milwaukee.gov/velrphillipsRFQ.
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