Hadiya Williams - Handle With Care Exhibit - Opening Reception

Art of Noize is proud to present Handle With Care, a solo exhibition by celebrated multidisciplinary artist Hadiya Williams.

For generations, Black women have used objects associated with domestic work, hospitality, and service to care for others in their own homes, and in the homes where they worked. In her Ancestor Index® series, Williams reimagines familiar household objects, placing mugs and teapots on the heads of her figures, transforming vessels of service into symbols of protection, dignity, and honor.

These objects carry a powerful contradiction: items traditionally used to serve others become forms of protection, while their fragility invites us to consider who is protected, who provides care, and who is expected to bear its weight.

Drawing from the material culture of her matrilineal ancestry in the Cameroon Grassfields, Williams explores how everyday objects can carry meaning beyond their practical functions, expressing identity, status, ceremony, and cultural memory. Through ceramics and sculptural forms, she brings these influences into conversation with the histories, labor, and lived experiences of Black women, honoring their enduring presence in domestic and cultural life.

About the Artist

Hadiya Williams is a Washington, D.C.–based artist and designer whose work bridges graphic design, ceramics, and surface pattern design. She is the founder and creative director of Black Pepper Paperie Co.®, a studio she established in 2017 to explore themes of cultural memory, migration, and ritual through handmade ceramics and visual art. Hadiya's work has been recognized and featured in various publications and exhibitions. Notably, her pieces are part of the permanent collections at the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Smithsonian Design Museum. Williams has collaborated with several brands, including F. Schumacher & Co., Esembly Baby, Nubian Hueman, and Lulu & Georgia. Through Black Pepper Paperie Co.®, Williams continues to create art that celebrates the Black experience, exploring the intersections of lineage, culture, and design. Her work serves as a testament to the enduring spirit and creativity that emerges from the interplay between history and contemporary art.