Artist Profile: Wriply Marie Bennet

Wriply Marie Bennet is a multi-disciplinary artist, born and raised in Ohio, and now based in Chicago. Her practice includes illustration, acting, singing and writing. Bennet’s art and organizing work began with the Trans Women of Color Collective and expanded through her involvement as a Freedom Rider fighting for justice for Mike Brown. Her illustrations highlight critical nuances of Black trans life, while drawing on concepts of Afro-Futurism and West-African diasporic religious iconography. Much of Wriply’s work affirms the power, perseverance and beauty of Trans women, femmes, gender non-conforming and queer folks. Her illustrations call attention to the epidemic of violence that Black trans women experience, both in the U.S. and globally. Bennet has worked as the resident artist with TransLash Media and developed THORN, a group that provides self-defense tools for Trans people of color. She has an upcoming show this March with Justice Fleet and was recently featured in the Transfuturism show at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, both in St. Louis.

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2.26.22

An illustration of a woman with a medium skin tone, brown eyes, and long brown hair. She is topless and wears a long flowing red loincloth with gold accents. In a comic-like layout, she is seen being weighed down by a ball and chain, nearly succumbing, until she gathers her strength and overcomes.

An illustration depicting Marsha P. Johnson as a mermaid. She has medium dark skin, blonde hair with a flower crown, a green fin, and a clamshell bralette. Her blonde hair takes up most of the frame, within it are illustrations of Johnson and Sylvia Rivera in various scenarios: standing under an umbrella behind a police line during the Stonewall Riots, marching while holding banners, one of which says “Marsha Pay it no Mind Johnson.”

An illustration in which several figures recline and relax in a natural space. The central figure sits in what appears to be a hanging chair. They have dark skin and long, curly red hair. They wear a lavender dress and a small pendant necklace. Leaning against the chair is another figure, tall with olive-toned skin and dark hair in tight curls. They are wearing a crop top and a long red skirt. Another figure with medium-dark skin and short brown hair reclines, they are wearing light green top with pink shorts. An individual with dark skin and patches of vitiligo lays across their lap, their hair in red dreadlocks. To their right is a figure with medium skin wearing their hair in a rainbow scarf and wearing a cyan crop top and behind them a figure with dark skin, black buzz cut hair, a blue shirt and gray shorts is reclining. Finally, a couple consisting of a figure with dark skin and long brown hair and a figure with very light skin and short blonde hair cuddles.

An illustration of four figures. At the top, framed by a large graphic black sunburst, is a figure with medium dark skin and long blonde hair. Their eyes glow bright green. They wear a navy blue top, their sleeves long and wispy as if they have superhuman powers. In front of them are three figures, from left to right: a figure with dark skin and short blue hair stands with their arms crossed, grining; a figure with medium skin, brown dreadlocks, and vitiligo with glowing blue eyes appears to be aiming at something. The last figure has medium skin and brown braids. They stand with their right arm on their hips, looking questionably at the figure on their right.