Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Leilah Hicks. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Leilah , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

This prior year, I was discovered while selling my artwork at Culture Canvas Cafe, a southside Chicago community vendor market, as a replacement for another vendor. I was appraoched by the founder of The Learning Tree, an organization focused on the utilization of asset based community development to support adults with developmental disabilities. When I was asked about my hurdles, I brought up struggles with my transition into an art career after graduating in 2021. Mainly touching on my mental health, work/life balance while caregiving, and finding belonging in my job. Without knowing it, I was perfect fit addition to their team. Since then, I was able to create artwork for them, provide low cost community art events in my city, and make opportunities for community growth. I witnessed a wide array of people coming together to share common interest and difficulties in their lives. This confirmed to me that there was a lack of access not a lack of interest, and it is possible to create a place to belong.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Leilah Hicks is a self-identified abstract 2D artist based in Northwest Indiana. With primary focus on acrylic painting and drawing to create artworks, playing with the depth of surrealism in portraiture. Due to the lack of art opportunities while in high-school, majoring in art was the only intention.
Upon graduation from Earlham College in ’21, she began experimenting to further develop her artist style. Simultaneously, returning to her love of crochet bringing together eye-catching color schemes and loose-fitting outer wear.
Currently she working as a substitute teacher, track and cross country coach, while facilitating the Crochet Club aiding highschooler to learn the popular hobby. Hicks plans to work locally to provide an art experience for the people of her community.

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

In my opinion, I believe there should be a clear connection on how art should be appreciated. There should be more artwork used to decorate a city coming from the inside. I would like to see more local businesses using a local artist for designs. Vendor fairs, community art events, or artist talks on the school level to reinforce the amount of creatives that could be as close as your neighbor.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I always love when something I really enjoyed creating, speaks more than I can. The artist and the audience having equal satisfaction in a piece creates this pocket of inspiration. Getting input and perspectives from other people makes the art more interesting. Which only gives me for motivation to create something else, just to repeat the cycle.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Hicksmadethis.net
• Instagram: Leilah_hicks