We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cynthia Lockhart a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Cynthia, appreciate you joining us today. Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?

My hero is my Mother Gerri Reid. If I could speak to her today, I would tell her she was right about everything!!!

In my mother’s house, everything in the house had a specific place, so we learned if we did not get it right, we would hear from her big time and possibly get a spanking. My mother was a force, and she was a perfectionist. What always comforted my sister, and I is that we knew our mother loved us and she would always protect us. Mother understood how to make way out of no way. Mother was a diva; she was an elegant and beautiful woman. Mother was also very intelligent. It took my sister and I along time to accept how fabulous she really was because she was very demanding. Mother worked as a secretary at a business firm, and she was also a fashion model. She created garments and decorated our home as if it was in a magazine. Mother loved to have fun; she was an excellent dancer, and she loved to cook. My sister and I, certainly benefited from all of her knowledge and the activities we enjoyed with her.

Mother provided us with a foundation of what was right and what was wrong. In growing up we understood how important it was to work hard and learn to be the best that you could be. When my sister and I were teenagers, we finally got it. We also began to understand about respecting adults; I do not know what took us so long to get that message, however I am certain it had something to do with maturing and growing up. My mother carried herself with elegance and style. When Mother walked into a room heads turned!!! My mother inspired me to become a fashion designer. After I graduated from high school, I applied for the DAAP program in Fashion Design, at University of Cincinnati and I was accepted. My beautiful Mother was very happy with this news. After I graduated from U.C. I moved to New York City and opened a Fashion Design Studio business, in New York. I invited my mother to visit and help whenever she was available,
I am so grateful for my mother’s guidance and her love. I miss her so much.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

About Cynthia Lockhart I

My fiber art is infused with a kaleidoscope of diverse influences, such as: Nature, fashion, music, dance, travel, African and cultural arts. My textiles are distinguished by their pulsating colors, which simulate the vivaciousness of my African ancestry, and by their irregular shapes and circles. My textile creations, which push the boundaries of the traditional quilt form are composed of colorful fabrics arranged in dynamic patterns. My fashion and accessories design background provide the perfect platform for creating exquisite three-dimensional art.

I am driven by inspiration and the passion to create innovative art. I use color to capture the emotional possibilities; shape/curvilinear lines as a method to address the twists, turns and mobility of life; and texture to express diversity and depth. Whether my art is telling a story or depicting an abstract emotion, it conveys the qualities of joy, optimism, and movement. My art tells a story-one that encourages people to understand the diversity of people, cultures, and the beauty in the word around them. The journey of life and its path continues to be my source of inspiration.

I believe that an artist is called to create and to inspire others. This is a unique gift and perspective. In this role, I am constantly pushing to achieve original concepts. An example of that exploration is my development of the “fibercation”
technique that I created. The artwork includes found objects, draped, folded, details and embellishment of beads, lace, braid, cording and leather, all of which assist in expressing the story of my art. The journey of life and its path continues to be a source of my inspiration. It is my hope that as I continue to grow and communicate what informs me as an artist
I dream that my artwork inspires people to see the endless possibilities of Hope, Joy, and Love.

About My Artwork I
In 2022, my quilt,” Created to Be Me” was acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. This is truly an honor. In 2024, the quilt was put on display in the Museum’s Renwick Gallery. The artwork was inspired by the United Nations Human Rights Declaration, which was ratified in 1948. The Declaration has 30 articles, my quilt design was inspired by article 28, “Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms sets forth in this declaration can be fully realized”. The visual imagery in the art represents a free spirit and celebrates the unending possibilities of the power of creativity. We are all human and have equal rights. We were born to dwell on this planet together and to contribute our talents and gifts to mankind in our own unique ways.

WCQN, Women of Color Quilt Network, where I am a member, was honored with art review in the New York Times for the group exhibition, “Threads of Faith”. The exhibition was curated by Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi. I had artwork in the exhibition, titled,” Make A Joyful Noise,”.

My artwork is included in collections of University of Cincinnati, Michigan State University, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. In addition, a solo show at the Weston Gallery at the Aronoff Center in Cincinnati, and in many Galleries around the country. My artwork has been featured in the book, “Encyclopedia of African American Artists” and my artwork has been featured on the cover of the iconic fashion magazine, “Women’s Wear Daily”, this was a very important opportunity for me.

In 2021, I received the Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award, and my art was featured at the Riffe Gallery, in Columbus Ohio. As an award-winning artist, I continue to be an active contributor in the design community from a local, national, and international perspective.

Cynthia Lockhart from New York to Cincinnati, Ohio I

After moving back to Cincinnati, Ohio, from 13 years of living in New York City, I had the honor of teaching at the University of Cincinnati, where I graduated from. I was a professor, and I developed new course curriculum, and taught Fiber Art Fashion, Art of Jewelry & Leather Accessory Design and Master of Design, Professional Development Seminar courses at the College of Design, Art and Architecture at the University of Cincinnati. Although I taught at the University of Cincinnati, I continued to flourish with my artistic pursuits. In fact, my collective experiences in my career, were a very important part of my success, in teaching my students at the University of Cincinnati.

When I lived and worked in New York, It opened doors for me to travel to Europe and experience different cultures after I returned to Cincinnati. I had a solid background for running a business. I started a company and hired employees, and created a brand, Cynthia Lockhart Accessories. It inspired me to never give up. It is important to continue to follow your dreams and desires. You must always believe in yourself and keep it moving. Remember, there is more than one way to accomplish your goals. Learning to pivot and to except another pathways is magical.

Never give up, however learn from your mistakes. It is ok to seek help from someone that you trust. Share what you have learned. Be alert and stay on top of your problems. They will not go away by themselves. Recognize what you can do and what you cannot do and what you dislike doing. If you need an assistant in your business, hire someone who is a good fit for you, and someone that you can trust. Learn to trust yourself, you will discern what is and what feels appropriate for your business.

Great opportunities I

I am an Artist, and I create stories and visual imagery that inspire people to appreciate and collect art and to love art.
I also teach art classes and workshops, at various organizations in Cincinnati and locations around the country. I have had art installations and permanent collections at the following organizations: Cincinnati Art Museum, The Taft Museum, The Weston Gallery, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, Artist-in-Residence at the Springer School and Center in Cincinnati, The World Bank Art program in, D.C., the University of Cincinnati, and featured in numerous publications, including the Encyclopedia of African American Artists and the fashion magazine Women’s Wear Daily.

I believe my artwork tells stories and encourages people to dream, dance and imagine. The visual imagery in my artwork represents a free spirit and celebrates the unending possibilities of the power of creativity. And by the way, when you buy a piece of art, you fall in love with it.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Having to move from New York City because of the stock market crash in the eighties and returning to my hometown in Cincinnati, was the beginning of a major transition in my life. I lived in New York for 13 years and had no intensions of ever moving back to Cincinnati. Living in New York was a fabulous experience, and I am grateful I survived all of the bumps, twists and turns of the city that never sleeps. It was amazing.

In my first real job in NYC, I worked as an assistant designer at a small garment company in Manhattan. I was excited and motivated to learn as much as I could about the fashion industry and to work hard to be part of the garment center. Since I had a degree in Fashion Design, I had a running start. However, everything was new and exciting. I could not believe that I had moved to New York City. Next, I had to look for a job. I took my portfolio and my dreams and found a job in the garment center. My job was an assistant design position. My duties at the company consisted of sketching new ideals, shopping the market for fabrics and the newest trends in the fashion market. As an assistant designer I was responsible for assisting the head designer. That consisted of designing, creating patterns, cutting fabrications, and supervising the seamstress at the company. I worked at the company for a few years and decided that I wanted to open my own design studio in New York.

My next move was to become an entrepreneur, I had confidence that I could run my own design studio. I lived in the garment center in Manhattan and was near to all of the supplies that I needed to run my business. I also had representation from a showroom. I felt like I was very equipped, because I graduated from the University of Cincinnati, from the DAAP, Design fashion design program. As a student I had the opportunity to work in New York, as a part of the cooperation education program. I was confident that I had the skills to run my own studio. As it turned out, I had the skills to create the artwork. However, I did not have the money source, to run my business and keep up the demand from the showroom.

My next job was with a handbag designer firm, Lee Vic Industries in Brooklyn. Lee Vic hired me because my handbag was featured on the cover of Womens Wear Daily, a prestige’s magazine. It was an exciting experience, to be a young designer in New York, and on my way up. I also maintained my own studio with staff.

I was a part of the garment industry, and everything was going well until the stock market crash. I was
unable to retrieve payments for orders that we shipped out to my customer base. I had a major loss of income. I had to pivot; I was able to keep my studio in the garment district however, I could not afford to keep my workers. I had to let them go. How ever, I was determined to stay in New York.

You must have faith in yourself and believe that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to do.
I had to make a decision whether to stay in New York or return home to Cincinnati Ohio.

During the Christmas Holiday, I went home to Cincinnati to contemplate my next steps. While I was at home, I decided to look at storefronts and availability of possible places for a new beginning. Although, I truly did not want to leave New York. However, I discovered the lower rental prices and the very large spaces that I toured in Cincinnati, were very impressive.

In fact, coming home seemed like it was the perfect solution; it was a divine decision. I started planning my journey back to Cininnati, and it turned out to be the best decision that I have ever made, a pivot and a new beginning. Change can be awesome. Everything that we encounter as we make our journey through life, helps us to survive. I returned to New York and started making my plans to move back to Cincinnati, Ohio.

Returning home to Cincinnati was difficult at first and it took a lot of introspection and focus to start a new beginning.
However, the message of hope, faith, struggle, resilience, perseverance, and survival kicked in and I marched back home with a determination to continue my journey as an Artist.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I Love being an artist. I am so grateful to be able to create fiber art quilts |

As an award-winning artist, I continue to be an active contributor in the design and art community from a local, national, and international perspective. I have lectured at conferences and museums throughout the United States, Japan, Italy, England and France. In addition, my artwork was featured in an exhibition at The World Bank in Washington D.C. titled, Confronting History. I taught, Fiber Art Fashion, Art of Jewlery & Leather Accessory Design and Master of Design Professional Development Seminar courses at the College of Design, Art and Architecture at the University of Cincinnati.

If you’ve ever done a call to worship, there’s somebody who has to call it out to a group of people, and those people have to then react to it. You have to do something first in order for people to react to it…
Artists are the griots for our country, for our world, for our children (griots, in West African cultures, are the bearers of history, stories, and oral tradition). They are the ones who call out and call in the peace and joy.

“We should all go on residencies with artists, poets, and musicians, we should all have that experience because you begin to know more about yourself, you begin to be more confident. Art and culture are the paths to a wealth of opportunities. Through creativity you can inspire, you can transform, you can connect, and you can impact the community and the world.

Believe in yourself with all your Heart and Soul. While you are building your career, people will be watching you. When I returned to Cincinnati from New York, it took several years for me to engage with the art community. However, when it began it was an overflow. I had many art exhibitions in Cincinnati.

One of my first major exhibitions was called, “Journey to Freedom” at the Taft Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio. Journey to Freedom told the story of my ancestors and celebrated their lives while acknowledging their struggles along the way. The art provoked the viewer into questioning how different people perceive the meaning of freedom in this country. This exhibition was a huge success. The Taft staff and the leadership informed me that it was one of their most successful shows that they have had. As a part of my installation, I invited the visitors to comment on the exhibition. I provided the guests with paper, pencils and pens and the opportunity to become part of the exhibition. Their remarks were fascinating. They left me positive comments and congratulations. It was a big hit, the exhibition was very successful, and the word got out and I received many contacts for art shows. It was awesome.

Artist Statement: I believe that an artist is called to create and to inspire others. This is unique gift. I am constantly pushing to achieve original concepts. My art includes mixed media, layering techniques, painting, dyeing, silk screen techniques, found objects, draped details and embellishment of beading, lace, braid, cording and leather. The journey of life continues to be the source of my inspiration. It is my desire that my artwork encourages people to see the endless possibilities of Hope, Joy and Love. Website I cynthialockhartartist.com

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: [email protected]
• Facebook: [email protected]
• Linkedin: [email protected]
• Youtube: [email protected]

Image Credits

Cynthia Lockhart

Jay Yocs

Kay Bancroft