Tomorrow the Sun Will Rise: Bria Sterling-Wilson

Learn more about the artists in Tomorrow the Sun Will Rise: The Phillips Collection Juried Exhibition (on view August 1-September 20, 2026).

Tell us about your work in Tomorrow the Sun Will Rise. 

The Get Together is a celebration of joy, family, and the traditions of summertime! Gathering with loved ones, sharing stories, laughing together, and simply enjoying each other’s presence. The work brings together imagery from my family’s photo albums alongside vintage magazines, blending personal memories with broader cultural imagery to create a space that feels both intimate and familiar.

This piece carries a sense of longing as well. As I search through old family photographs, I’m piecing together moments that happened before I was born. I find myself imagining what it would have been like to be there! I can only imagine what it would have been like to experience those family reunions, to hear the conversations, and to see my grandmother in those joyful moments of her life. There is both joy and yearning in that process.

By combining family photographs with vintage magazine imagery, I’m building a memory that exists between the past and the present. The Get Together honors my family’s legacy while celebrating Black joy, community, and the traditions that continue to connect generations. It is both a tribute to the moments I inherited through photographs and an expression of my own desire to belong within those memories. 

Tell us about your artistic process. 

My artistic process involves hours of searching, looking, listening, and reading. Much of my practice begins in my family’s photo albums and personal archives, where I spend time uncovering stories and piecing together memories. Over the years, I’ve become an archivist of my family’s history, preserving moments that might otherwise be forgotten.

I also search through vintage magazines and newspapers, collecting imagery that reflects broader histories of Black life, beauty, and culture. Bringing these materials together allows me to build layered narratives that exist between memory and imagination, the personal and the collective. 

What themes are central to your artistic process?

The themes that are central to my artistic practice are Black womanhood, identity, beauty, Black American life (both past and present), stereotypes, and Black culture. These themes are important to me because they are rooted in my own lived experience and the experiences of the people around me. My work reflects the realities, complexities, and richness of Black life while challenging narratives that have historically misrepresented our communities.

My greatest influences are my mother, my grandmother, my family, my friends, and the world around me. The stories they share, the lessons they’ve passed down, and the everyday moments we experience together all shape the way I create. My art is an extension of who I am. My art carries my history, my relationships, my observations, and my perspective. Through my work, I hope to celebrate Black culture, honor the women who have shaped me, and create space for reflection and conversation. 

What does it mean to you to be part of this exhibition? 

This means the world to me. This is the first time my work will be exhibited in a museum, and I am incredibly honored and grateful to be included in such a beautiful space. I told my grandmother that her smile would travel all over, and I’m keeping that promise. Having my work here is not only a milestone for me as an artist, but also a way to honor her, my family, and the stories that continue to inspire everything I create. 

Anything else you would like to share about you/your art? 

I’m excited to share that my next solo exhibition will open this November at the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts! I can’t wait to share it with the community. I hope you’ll keep an eye out for more details in the coming months. I look forward to welcoming everyone there.