Black Art & Activism: Texas Artist of the Year Vicki Meek

2021 Texas Artist of the Year Vicki Meek has spent five decades creating Black art that doesn't just reflect struggle—it builds spaces for healing, liberation, and transformation.

As a legendary artist, curator, and cultural critic, Vicki Meek creates work that confronts political violence, honors the African Diaspora, and imagines what thriving—not just surviving—looks like for Black communities. From early sculptures that challenged injustice to immersive installations that reclaim urban history, her art serves as activism and cultural preservation.

In this conversation, Vicki shares the vision behind the Urban Historical Reclamation & Recognition Project (UHRR), explains how art becomes a tool for social change, and reveals what five decades of cultural work has taught her about resilience, community, and the power of creative resistance.

This episode is a masterclass in how Black art shapes consciousness, preserves history, and creates pathways to liberation.

What You'll Discover:

- How five decades of Black art activism connects history to healing

- The Urban Historical Reclamation & Recognition Project (UHRR) and its impact

- Why art as activism remains essential to social justice movements

- How Black art creates spaces for community thriving, not just survival

- The journey to becoming 2021 Texas Artist of the Year

- What cultural preservation means in practice for the African Diaspora

Key Moments:

01:11 – Welcome & Introduction to Vicki Meek

16:10 – "How Did You End Up in Dallas?"

23:10 – The Urban Historical Reclamation & Recognition Project

29:10 – "I'm an Activist!" Art as Political Action

40:26 – Deep Dive: Urban Historical Reclamation & Recognition (UHRR)

56:10 – What "Making Black History Today" Means to You

This is Making Black History Today—conversations with artists, activists, and cultural leaders shaping liberation through creativity.

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