Movement, Not Stasis: The Art and Journey of Kim Weston

Art can be powerful as a shared experience—a way to think, feel and learn together. In the podcast episode “What If Art Could Transform How You Learn and Experience Life?” with Liliana Milkova , we discussed art as an entry point into the unfamiliar, a medium that can help us understand different perspectives and challenge our own. Art can help us make room for connections and reflections—experiences we might not otherwise have.

Artist Kim Weston speaks to art as a learning experience during our conversation on the Learning Through Experience podcast. She is an Afro-Indigenous artist whose life and art tell a story of?learning through experience. Kim’s story is one of resilience and transformation, capturing the ways relationships, mentorship and ancestral connection have shaped her journey. Through her unique style of “spirit photography,” Kim explains, “our ancestors are with me, the people that I loved in the past, they are still with me today.”

“I feel like I have been blessed with this gift to be able to share the beauty of what I experience.” – Kim Weston

I love how my time with Kim centered on how experiential learning can profoundly shape not only how we see the world, but who we become. Her art is both personal and universal—a way of keeping the past present and connecting with something larger.

“I realized that the energy that I felt… I was actually capturing it with my camera… to remind us that we’re not alone, that our ancestors made a path for us to go on” – Kim Weston

Relational Experience: Learning Through Connection

Relational experience, a defining theme of Learning Through Experience, has been foundational to Kim’s work. It’s so much more than learning a skill; it’s learning through connection and how you experience others. Early on, mentors including Thelma Golden, Lorna Simpson, Elizabeth Catlett and Dawoud Bey were influential in her artistic journey, particularly during her time at the Jamaica Arts Center. As Kim described it, “I wasn’t just learning to be an artist; I was learning to be a vessel for my community’s stories.”

Kim’s deep focus on ancestry and early teachers makes me smile with warmth and recognition since I focused the first season of Learning Through Experience on my early mentors. As Kim and I discussed, experiential learning often goes beyond technique—it helps us carry forward the voices and messages of those who’ve shaped us, blending their influence into our perspectives and expressions.

Kim’s relational experiences and community connections have? layers of meaning and interpretation that evolved over time.

“What if we embraced the idea that understanding is not a fixed point, but a shifting horizon? To truly see, perhaps we must step into the ambiguity—revel in the multiplicity of meanings that only deepen the more we look.” – Kim Weston

A Health Experience Deepened Her Approach to Art?

One of the most moving parts of Kim’s story is a health challenge, which transformed her approach to art; she returned with a profound awareness of spirit and energy. This moment led her to experiment with long-exposure photography as a way of capturing the unseen, helping her find a way to convey the presence of her ancestors, and offering viewers a sense of connection to her heritage and culture.

“When I came back, I knew we’re more than physical bodies; we’re energy. Through my photography, I try to capture that feeling, that sense that we are surrounded by the unseen.” – Kim Weston

This turning point gave her photography a new depth, allowing her to create what she calls “visual notes” that go beyond physical representation. Through her art, Kim captures the presence of ancestors, showing viewers that we’re always surrounded by the legacies and energies of those who came before. Her work speaks to the power of experiential learning not just to transform knowledge but to enrich our sense of belonging and continuity.

“Sometimes, the beauty lies in the questions left unanswered, in the rich intersections where perspectives converge and diverge. It’s here, in the ambiguity, that a whole new way of seeing takes form—if only we’re willing to linger.” – Kim Weston

Creating Spaces of Connection at Yale

Today, Kim’s spirit photography is featured in the Atrium at Yale’s School of Management, where it transforms the space into one of connection and reflection. Each of her pieces invites viewers to engage with the dancer and perhaps with Native American culture, providing an experience that’s as contemplative as it is visual.

Kim’s art transforms stillness into a dynamic encounter, embodying the energy and essence of Indigenous heritage. Her installation at Yale is a poignant example of how art can open doors to experiential learning, encouraging viewers to connect with something beyond themselves.

Wisdom Through Ancestral Connection

Our conversation concluded with Kim’s reflections on the teachings from her Indigenous heritage—wisdom that emphasizes stewardship, interconnectedness and respect for all life. Her art serves as a bridge to this wisdom, offering viewers a chance to experience ancestral presence and a reminder of our shared responsibilities.

“Our ancestors are with us, guiding us. We’re all connected to the earth, to each other, and to something much larger than ourselves.” – Kim Weston

It’s a refreshing reminder of the value of connection and presence—and an invitation to reflect on our own lives, our own connections, and the ways that learning through experience enriches our understanding of ourselves and the world. Even in our most challenging moments, we can find meaning, purpose and connection to something greater.

An Invitation to Experience Episode 4

Kim Weston’s story is a call to see art, connection, and learning as dynamic forces that invite us to engage deeply, reflect personally and connect across time and culture. I hope you will take a moment to listen—or better yet, watch—the full episode with Kim. Art is a dynamic, evolving experience that offers a unique way to access what we see and what we feel and remember. Through her photography, Kim captures the invisible presences that linger in our lives—ancestral energy, spirit and movement—and transforms images into experiences that resonate with our own inner and outer worlds.?

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