We recently connected with Micah Briggs and have shared our conversation below.

Micah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on in my artistic career was my commission for the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum’s Making Home Triennial (2024–2025). The project, Birthing in Alabama: Designing Spaces for Reproduction, explored the history of birth in Alabama and the systemic barriers that affect doctors, midwives, and birthworkers’ ability to provide safe and accessible reproductive healthcare. In collaboration with Dr. Yashica Robinson, whose work inspired the project, and researchers Lori A. Brown and Jessie Marks Rubenstein.
I was commissioned to create 22 ink illustrations of Alabama native plants that have been used medicinally by Indigenous, African, and European populations, to support pregnancy, birthing, and general wellness. This work was extremely personal. During my own pregnancy, I found myself immersed in research on natural healing, midwifery, and medicinal plants, which ultimately connected me to the systems and practices highlighted in this project. Working on this commission felt like a full-circle moment—combining my passion for wellness with my artistic practice, and deepening my connection to the histories, knowledge, and resilience of the people and plants of my home state.
This work in a way, really shifted my trajectory as an artist in such a beautiful way. Causing me to dive deeper into exploring those concepts of “home”, tradition, wellness, ancestral memory. I have always seen art as a tool for connection, reflection, and healing, and this project really embodied that.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve been surrounded by art my whole life. For me, creating wasn’t necessarily a choice—it is a gift, deeply ingrained in who I am and central to my purpose. I am the founder of 4XA, my creative studio, where I bring my visions to life across painting, illustration, design, installation work, murals, and more. I work with gouache, stained glass, glass tile, ink, pencil, pastels, oil paint, block printing—truly, whatever material best serves the story or experience I wish to share. There is no limit to what I create or how I choose to create it.

I come from a long line of deeply inspiring, intelligent, and creative women. I am the fourth generation named Althea—my daughter is the fifth. Althea means “with healing power” or “to heal,” and for me, my healing power is shared through my art. I am a visual storyteller, creating pieces that are vibrant and captivating yet designed to make the viewer pause—to inspire thought, conversation, curiosity, and connection. My work evokes childlike wonder while encouraging reflection, transformation, and healing. Art is not simply what I do; it is who I am.

Inspired by my ancestors and the artists who came before me, through my art I hope to reveal truths, reimagine identities, re-enchant communities, and re-inspire collective strength. Through art, I create spaces for reflection, curiosity, and transformation, inviting others to dream, question, and reconnect with themselves and the world around them.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I believe artists need support starting from the education level, with stronger artistic programs in schools, more resources for young creatives, and opportunities to explore their craft with both guidance and freedom. Access to studio and creative spaces is another major hurdle—spaces can be difficult to find and expensive to maintain, so more free or low-cost studios would make a huge difference.
Supporting the arts also means recognizing not only the worth of the art but also the artist behind it, investing not only in the art itself but in the future of our creative ecosystem.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the act of creating is the most rewarding part of being an artist. Simply bringing my visions to life is fulfilling, and being able to do it full-time and get paid for it is an incredible bonus. Equally rewarding is inspiring young artists and showing them that they can pursue a successful creative path.

As a young Black woman, it was challenging to see myself reflected in the artists I learned about in school or saw in museums. Artists like Frida Kahlo, Faith Ringgold, Kehinde Wiley, and Basquiat inspired me deeply, and as I grew, discovering traditional art forms from African, Asian, and Indigenous cultures also shaped who I was as a creative. Being able to serve as that source of inspiration for a new generation, showing them that their creativity is powerful, impactful, and limitless is extremely meaningful to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.4xa.org
• Instagram: @micahalthea