From bold murals on city walls to silent sketches born from protest, artists have long served as cultural truth-tellers. This conversation dives into how public art and grassroots activism intersect—and what that looks like in real communities, right now.
Jenny Roesel Ustick, known for large-scale works like The Mr. Dynamite/James Brown mural and multiple international collaborations, shares how murals become public statements of strength, resistance, and beauty. Her work amplifies the voices of women, the marginalized, and those too often left out of the frame.
Bomani Moyenda, a longtime community activist, organizer, and cultural commentator, brings lived experience to the table. His work with criminal justice reform, racial equity, and education highlights the many ways community voices can be heard, often first through artistic expression.
Together, they discuss:
- How public art reshapes civic space
- The emotional and strategic power of visual protest
- What happens when artists center marginalized stories
- How creative acts—large or small—build lasting change
“Art doesn’t just reflect the times—it provokes them. It pushes us to imagine something freer,” says Ustick.
“We don’t just need more conversations. We need more murals. More poetry. More visibility,” adds Moyenda.
