Public Art
Client:  OZ Art
Location: Pine Bluff
Artists: Lakwena

Service: Concept, Location scouting, Curation, Development and Production

Justkids invited London-based contemporary artist Lakwena ​to bring her ​vibrant geometric colors and inspiring text-based work to the city of ​Pine Bluff and create a site-specific public art intervention transforming Martin Luther King Jr. Park’s public basketball courts with a large-scale painting porting a powerful message.

With a rhythmic approach to color and patterns Lakwena ’s stunning composition is lined with playful ​elements of basketball expressions and empowering quote calling reference to the life and work of the great American poet and Arkansas resident Maya Angelou, included her iconic poem “Still I Rise”, bringing a timely dynamic message of hope and pride.

Lakwena’s piece is part of ARkanvas​: ​a statewide engagement bringing art experiences by world-renowned artists to Arkansas, and fostering community through a shared appreciation of culture and nature across The Natural State.

This piece, “I’ll bring you flowers”, continues on that trajectory of looking at growth and blessing in spite of adversity. I was really excited to work in a place with a largely black demographic. It was nice to make an artwork for people that I have a connection to in that respect, especially at what feels like a very significant time for the black community. Flowers are often used as a way of greeting, paying respect and honor people, and I wanted to honor the community in Pine Bluff.

- Lakwena