Cheza Willis at The People's Museum for Prince
Dan Pratt, Kirk Thoren
Cheza Willis

Cheza Willis

Minneapolis, MN
Prince-Inspired Selfie Portrait
Digital Photograph, 2026
If I Was Your Girlfriend

Life experiences come and go like the rain, all types of rain, heavy, light, soaking, sprinkling and it is how we allow that rain to affect us is how we choose to move forward from the rain. This painting represents a transition in my life when I moved from a place of comfort into a new chapter. The piece explores how we choose to move forward after various life experiences, which I have conceptualized here as diverse types of rain. I was inspired by how Prince navigated his own challenges, using his past and present as dual forces for his creativity. In the work, multi-colored strokes fall like water, and from that shimmer, a figure emerges representing the past, present, and future self. The figure in the painting is based on the photograph of myself included in My Prince Story. I consider this composition a painting in its own right, with the camera serving as my medium.

UK born, Cheza is a graduate from Mountview Conservatoire for the Performing Arts in London, 1997 and obtained her master's in fine art from Maine College of Art and design in 2024. After moving full-time to Minneapolis in 1999, Cheza has carved a creative life for herself both here and in Maine as an actor, artist, puppeteer and all-round creative creature.Lastly, Cheza is an animal rights advocate.

Cheza Willis — Prince-Inspired Selfie Portrait
Digital Photograph · 2026

At the Museum — Roberts Gallery

Installation view — Cheza Willis, Prince-Inspired Selfie Portrait Installation view — Cheza Willis, Prince-Inspired Selfie Portrait
Event photo — Cheza Willis at The People's Museum for Prince
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