public works by rosy petri

"Moanin' in Muddy Waters: The Blues Women of Paramount Records" is part of the WE Energies Foundation Collection at the Baird Center, and was created in honor of the queer blues women who helped to shape the foundations of American popular music. The work depicts my own interpretations Ma Rainey, Geeshie Wiley and Elvie (L.V.) Thomas, and a midwestern iteration of a diasporan water spirit Mami Fresh Wata. To learn more about the process of creating these works, visit the Baird Center website.

"Vel n 'Em" was acquired for the ThriveOn King redevelopment project in Milwaukee's Bronzeville neighborhood. Read more about the project here.

"En Pointe" is part of the Planned Parenthood Forward Art Initiative Collection. Read more about the work in the collection here.

The "Agriculture, Distribution, and Advocacy" triptych was installed at the Hunger Task Force In 2023 to celebrate creating food security within the community while honoring sisters Vera Cavaliere and Rosemary Raiola. Learn more about the project through the Hunger Task Force's website.

"A Good Soldier: Thomas C. Fleming," created for the Black Pioneers show with the Women of Color Quilters Network has been acquired by the James Museum.

The Adams Park quilt was created in the summer of 2022 as a way of honoring community leaders. Students in the summer arts program met weekly to learn a variety of textile design techniques including rust printing, dyework, linoleum printing and cyanotyping. The work is part of the Adams Park collection.

"Brave Brothers" vinyl mural was installed as part of the "Painting the Near West Side" initiative by the Near West Side Partners in 2021. The mural is looking for a new home, but you can learn more about the mural and the project here.

"bell hooks" is a fabric portrait I made as the inaugural artist in residence at the bell hooks Center at Berea College. I made a 6 week solo journey from Milwaukee through the south to visit with artists and culture bearers, landing for a month at the college. I had the pleasure of sitting with bell at her home before getting to work, and am honored to have been able to make this piece before she transitioned.

This quilt was the last public project I did before the pandemic closed the world down. It was created with community members at the Milwaukee Public Library MLK branch over the course of 4 weeks as part of Black History Month. The library is currently being rebuilt, and I can't wait to see the Milwaukente quilt again.

This work was created as part of Shorewood, Wisconsin's "Signaling History" project. The box is located outside of Shorewood high school, and became a gathering place for student led protests. I'm so glad the students resonated with the image, and wrote about the project here.

This quilt square was created for the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts 2020 quarantine quilt project. To learn more about the Quarantine Quilt project, check out this article.

"MKE, WI" was installed in the Milwaukee County Courthouse in 2020. The six piece installation hang outside of the Milwaukee County Executive's office. For more info, check out this article.

"Together" was created for the Northwestern Mutual Giving Gallery in honor of Next Door's 50th Anniversary in 2019. For more information about the work, please visit Next Door Milwaukee's website.