The Interdisciplinary Force: How Amanda Williams, Alice Wong, and John Kiss Are Rewriting the Limits of Creative Expression

In a world driven by specialization, three creative pioneers, Amanda Williams, Alice Wong, and John Kiss, are redefining the boundaries of innovation by drawing from diverse disciplines. These artists prove that combining expertise from different fields can create groundbreaking solutions to complex societal issues. Their work reminds us of Shakespeare’s timeless insight: “We know what we are, but know not what we may be,” underscoring the limitless potential of crossing traditional boundaries.

Amanda Williams (Source: Tony Smith)

Trained in architecture at Cornell University, Williams burst into public consciousness with Color(ed) Theory, a series of abandoned houses painted in bold hues across Chicago’s South Side. Williams’s work in urban spaces goes beyond art—it’s a statement on gentrification, redlining, and race. Williams uses color to expose the complex histories and invisible forces shaping Black communities, asking viewers to see everyday structures as witnesses to cycles of disinvestment and neglect.

Williams’s work has been celebrated for bridging architecture with community activism. She is careful. Every shade has been carefully selected to reflect the cultural significance of Black life-like “Ultrasheen,” the color of a once-ubiquitous hair product, or “Flamin’ Red Hots,” a candy associated with the neighborhood’s convenience stores. By painting these dilapidated homes, Williams invites us to reimagine these structures as monuments to resilience and rich cultural heritage. 

The multiple mediums that she uses allows for a distinct view of art. Her art comes from a love of colors. She loves colors and color theory. She uses color to create compositions. Josef Albers taught Williams that color is subjective and has a relationship. This knowledge helped her discover that  colors in her neighborhood were affected by other colors.  Her discovery allowed her to apply custom- mixed colors to her old neighborhood.

Williams’ art is highly political. She uses her knowledge in art and architecture to create a unique voice. Her use of color in her art relates to space. Spellman College said of her, “Drawing from an array of source material and using color as an operative logic to interpret the elusive meaning of ‘blackness,’ Williams complicates readings of our spatial surroundings.” Williams’ work blends art disciplines together for activism. 

Israeli street artist, activist, and novelist Kiss (she-her) advocates for change by combining her passions for art, storytelling, and social justice. Known for her iconic murals like The Peace Kids, which promotes coexistence, and 27 Club Graffiti, a tribute to young artists lost too soon, Kiss uses her art to tackle political themes and foster dialogue. Her commitment to human rights also extends to her unwavering support for LGBTQ+ rights, which she incorporates into her activism and creative work.

Kiss’s foray into literature with her novel Under the Floorboards expands her influence. The story delves into trauma and resilience through the lens of a Jewish family surviving the Holocaust, illustrating her ability to weave historical memory with deeply personal narratives. Whether painting murals on the streets of Tel Aviv or penning prose, Kiss seamlessly blends visual art, activism, and storytelling to connect with audiences on multiple levels. 

John Kiss (Source: Kyu Oh)

A disability rights activist, writer, and founder of the Disability Visibility Project, Wong has made herself an irreplaceable voice in the disabled community. In 1997 she graduated with degrees in English and sociology from Indiana University at Indianapolis. She has an MS in medical sociology and worked at the University of California, San Francisco as a Staff Research Associate. She founded the Disability Visibility Project in 2014. The project started as an oral history project, designed to collect the stories of disabled people. She  shared these histories in two books, Disability Visibility and Disability Intimacy. 

Wong’s activism and storytelling blend to create a robust platform that challenges social stigmas and amplifies disabled voices. Her book, Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century, is a collection of narratives from disabled individuals, providing insight into their lives in a society designed without them in mind. 

Alice Wong  (Source: Maria Del Rio)

Wong’s work transcends traditional activism by incorporating various media, from podcasting to social media, ensuring the movement remains accessible to people of all abilities. Her influence has created an undeniable shift in how disability is represented in public discourse, and her approach has brought an array of perspectives to a wider, more inclusive audience. In challenging both the visible and invisible structures that limit disabled lives, Wong shows that her work is as much about re-imagining culture as it is about changing policy.

Together, Williams, Wong, and Kiss illustrate how disciplines can reinforce and elevate one another. Their work transcends labels, as each artist tackles complex issues—racial inequality, disability justice, and peace activism—with tools from multiple domains. By drawing from diverse sources, they create pieces that resonate with people from various walks of life, using their creativity to challenge and expand public consciousness.