Hi, I’m Lakeem 

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I’m a practicing artist, curator, and educator—and my work lives at the intersection of the beautification of urban environments and developmental art. I build the narrative of the future while honoring the narrative of the past with respect and dignity.

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I was raised in South Dallas, and I’m called to keep building in the same neighborhoods that built me. I don’t see culture as a single venue or one organization; I see a living ecosystem. That’s why I’ve chosen to work as a liaison—synchronizing museums, theaters, cultural centers, schools, churches, block associations, and small businesses—so our stories carry farther, feel truer, and return value to the people who made them.

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My practice moves between studio and street, gallery and classroom. I draw, paint, design, teach, and produce. I’ve learned that an idea is only as strong as the system that carries it—so I pair the artist’s eye with a producer’s spine: transparent contracts, humane schedules, clear run-of-show, and teams that feel seen and respected. The goal is simple: artists protected, crews respected, audiences reflected.

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Along the way I’ve worn a few hats. As Associate Curator at the African American Museum, Dallas, I helped shape exhibitions and public programs with conservation-minded care. With Sky Blue Gallery, my wife Simone and I turned a garage into a gathering place—pop-ups, talks, and hands-on workshops that travel. Beginning November 17, 2025, I step into Producing Director, Artistic Experiences with Forest Forward/Forest Theater, launching Forest Originals and stewarding a season of live programs from pitch to strike. Different roles, same mission: tell the truth beautifully, and make culture accessible, equitable, and unforgettable.

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What I build

• Place-based experiences: exhibitions, concerts, festivals, mobile pop-ups, and community murals that turn local memory into public joy.

• Brand & story systems: playbooks, messaging, and editorial calendars so programs, press, and fundraising speak in one voice.

• Production infrastructure: budgets, schedules, tech specs, safety plans, and artist-care protocols that make ambitious work sustainable.

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How I work

• Artist-first: fair fees, clear scope, humane timelines.

• Community-anchored: partnerships that hire local, train youth, and leave skills behind.

• Data-informed, story-driven: we measure impact and we make it human.

• Tools I use: Google Workspace, Dropbox, Slack, Monday.com, Zoom, RAMP, Adobe CC—and I’m AI-savvy across creative and ops workflows.

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A few signatures

• Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition & Exhibition (AAM)

• MatchBox Mobile Exhibitions (modular gallery experiences across Dallas)

• Life in Black Ink (illustration series → exhibits and marketplace activations)

• Multi-site community murals with partners and neighborhood crews

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My north stars haven’t changed: “This is not about history, it’s about life and culture.” And, “If not me, then who? If not now, then when?” If you’re building something that honors the past and makes room for the future, let’s make it real—on the wall, on the stage, or out in the world.