ABSTRACT
Wilson is widely known for his installations that challenge assumptions about the dynamics of race, ethnicity, class and gender in museums and in hegemonic culture. His formally stunning and politically revealing juxtapositions of objects help us to envision a more socially responsible museum and society. But to address ‘what happens next’, we must also consider Wilson’s collaborative process during his interventions, for which he typically spends months on site, familiarizing himself with institutional histories, policies, collections and engaging with a broad range of personnel. What is the long-term impact of this performative process on individual staff, departments, institutions and the museum sector more broadly? What role might artists like Wilson play in supporting institutional change and nurturing a more socially engaged and responsible museum practice?
