Wex Story: Cody Ellis

As we reflect on celebrating our 25th anniversary this year, we recognize that we wouldn't have made it here without the support of our members and patrons (that's you!). We’ve been asking people to share their Wex stories—what they were up to 25 years ago, their favorite Wexner Center moments, how the center has impacted them, what they see as the center's role in the community—and the responses have been rolling in.

Do you have a Wexner Center story? Share it here, and you just might see it featured here on our blog or in our print publications.

I was born and raised on the west side of Columbus, right on the border of the Hilltop, and my memories of naturally taking to arts and creativity start at a very early age. I would stay in Mr. Hoffmaster's art class an extra period just so that I could draw a little bit longer. My parents always encouraged my creativity and did everything they could to enhance what seemed to come so naturally.

Aside from standard trips to COSI and other cool places, I have a very distinct memory of a trip to the Wexner Center in early 2000. It was some sort of special family day type event. There were all sorts of stations set up where you could paint, draw, construct stuff; it was awesome. There was one station where you were able to design your own picture frame. This was by far my favorite station. I put feathers, beads, paper machê, and pipe cleaners on my frame. I was most excited for the frame because I couldn't wait to get home and put a picture of my father's semi truck in it. My father had been driving semis since he was 19, and still does to this day. In my eyes my dad was a rockstar, so naturally, I was obsessed with big rigs my entire childhood; I would spend all day drawing semis.

My mom was recently cleaning out the basement and found the frame and picture in perfect condition. When I was looking at it, it made me realize how powerful of an impact not only my dad being a truck driver had on me, but that fact combined with how much my parents pushed me to be creative and chase my dreams. There's no doubt that my parents taking me to the Wexner Center and giving me authentic experiences like that helped shape me. It really started to dawn on me last year how heavy of an impact this all had on me, so I decided to travel with my dad in his semi for a few weeks this past summer and documented the trip with a 35mm camera. For me, this project was like everything from my childhood coming full circle—my parents encouraging my creativity while exposing me to all sorts of things that helped shape the way I see things.