Phillip Windell

Lives and works in Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Artist statement

Foundwork Phillip A Windell Artist Statement Phillip fell on his head when he was four years old. 12 feet. Head first. Concrete. 1947. He did it again when he was 12 (1965), slipping and falling head-first onto the blade of a grubhoe. Onto his sinus bone, just below his right eye. Fortunately. Other effects are unknown. He began capturing images while he was in West Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer, 1967-1969. The feedback loop was long, but he learned and followed his eyes. Some was documenting; but other images were not. But even many of his “documentary” images had qualities others noticed. He’s deeply grateful for the comments and encouragement he’s received over the years from a few artists in various media. He is most grateful for the time he spent as an early member of the Pittsburgh Filmmakers Association (1969-1974) and an early association with the Silver Eye, in Pittsburgh (2006-2011). He is otherwise self-taught and holds no one else responsible. Born and raised in Seattle, WA, Phillip’s undergraduate work was completed (Political Science) at a small college in SE Washington – Whitman, located in the town they loved so much they named it twice, like “Sing Sing” – Walla Walla, WA. After Peace Corps he attended gradual school in Pittsburgh (Sociology) and helped establish a social research center prior to moving to various forms of policy analysis at federal, county and, for the last 10 years, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, working with Medicaid and Medicare...

Artwork