Emmett Wigglesworth is a muralist, painter, sculptor, fabric designer, and poet born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He studied at the Philadelphia College of Art and Design before serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, from which he was honorably discharged in 1957. Since 1958, he has lived and worked in New York City. Wigglesworth’s artistic practice spans visual art, literature, and performance, reflecting a lifelong commitment to creative expression and community engagement.

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Throughout his career, he has designed and illustrated books and magazines for major publishers, including Harper & Row, McGraw-Hill, Macmillan Press, and American Books. His work has appeared in publications such as Sesame Street Magazine, and he has also combined poetry and printmaking to produce documentary projects and book covers. Wigglesworth has taught art widely, including at the New Muse in Brooklyn, the Children’s Art Carnival, and community programs throughout New York City.

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An active participant in the Civil Rights Movement beginning in 1959, Wigglesworth also taught at the CORE Freedom School in Selma, Alabama. His murals and artworks have been exhibited across the United States and in Ghana, and his public commissions appear in schools, hospitals, community centers, and cultural institutions.

Through his art, Wigglesworth seeks to inspire reflection on humanity, encouraging viewers to search for deeper spiritual truths.

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