Fabian Williams

2020 UCDA Foundation Krider Prize for Creativity Recipient

Photos Courtesy of Fabian Williams, Award photo by Tadson Bussey

The 2020 UCDA Foundation Krider Prize for Creativity was awarded to Fabian Williams, co-founder of BLOOM, an artist born and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, now living in Atlanta, Georgia.

BLOOM started as an idea from Fabian and writer Elisa Smith several years ago. After years of producing murals by Fabian in the city of Atlanta, and developing a body of work focused on social and political issues, a narrative was established for the need for public work that focused on people of color. And now, communities of color are being hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic—Native Americans, Latinos and African Americans. Fabian and other artists have revisited their murals and masking them in hopes of spreading public health information about COVID-19.

The mission of BLOOM is to make Atlanta into an International Arts Tourism Destination by transforming underserved communities to be self sustainable by creating hubs that improve the quality of life for community members using local partnerships and resources.

Fabian is a contemporary artist, activist and professional weirdo based in Atlanta and has been featured in The Guardian, BBC, L.A. Times, New York Times, Playboy, Atlanta Journal Constitution, SB Nation, Bloomberg, The Root and various media outlets for his bold work and P-32 space modulator laser sharp wit. Before he became a full time artist, he worked as a lowly designer and/or hard-hearted art director in the advertising industry for such brands as Nike, American Express, Pennzoil, and Verizon where he learned the dark arts of persuasion. His latest project was co-creating The #Kaeperbowl during Superbowl 53.

Fabian was presented the award during the Virtual UCDA Design Conference on October 13, 2020.

Created in 2009, the UCDA Foundation Krider Prize for Creativity honors creativity wherever it may be found. Recognizing that designers draw their inspiration and influences from a broad range of fields and experiences, the Krider Prize provides access for UCDA members to a variety of creative people and organizations. The Prize encourages participation from local to global arenas and provides wider public recognition of UCDA and its members.