Creative murals installed in Birmingham to encourage people to vote

I was looking for some inspiration to create something that was impactful inspiring, kind of wanted to get people motivated to vote. So I was looking at artworks by this art collective called Africa Cobra, and they did a lot of work during revolutionary periods in American history. E know that Birmingham is a very, you know, important city in regards to American history and black American history. So it is actually an honor to like, See that my work is in Birmingham and I hope that inspires, you know, the youth and young people of my age rage to vote and, like, use our voice toe, have a say in this upcoming election. I didn't wanna make it out. That seems so like aggressive, I guess so. I wanted to create something that was along the lines of my personal artwork, which I use a lot of bright colors and patterns. Um, so I wanted this to reflect my work in my voice still, but I also again, like you said, wanted to create something that inspired people of all ages, like it doesn't matter what your background is. I wanted it to like catch people's attention. E had worked with Facebook under their artist in residence program, where they reached out to me and commission me to create a mural inside of one of their offices, actually in Washington, D. C, where I'm based. So I created a mural that was kind of inspired by the office space and just how it was kind of like a space for people to come together who worked together on how you create community amongst your colleagues, E.

Facebook commissioned five artists to create murals that would encourage people to vote ahead of the November 3rd election. The public murals have been temporarily installed in ten cities across the country including at five locations in Birmingham. QR codes and a URL have been positioned next to the murals which directs people to Facebook’s Voter Information Center and to Instagram.Mural Locations in Birmingham 1922 3rd Ave N, Bessemer, AL 35020 ; Edie Fake 1908 11th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205 ; Jamilla Okubo 2306 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, 35203 ; Ramsy Masri 735 Eighth Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35204 ; Tiff Massey 625 19th Street Ensley, Birmingham, AL 35218 ; Troy Lamarr ChewArtist BiosTroy Lamarr Chew II, (b. 1992), lives and works in California // @troylamarrchew Troy Lamarr Chew II uses painting to weave together narratives of contemporary Black culture and indigenous African visuals. The references to West African textiles and hip-hop culture in his work aim to reconnect African Americans with their African heritage after its intentional erasure through the legacy of American slavery and Jim Crow. Edie Fake, b. 1980, lives and works in Twentynine Palms, CA // @ediefake Edie Fake is a multimedia artist and transgender activist whose work addresses themes of gender, sexuality, and queer identity in the form of zines, prints, comics, drawings, tattoos, paintings, installations, and performances. This mural reflects Fake’s interest in depicting “ecstatic queer architectures” in the context of our rapidly changing social and political climate Tiff Massey, (b. 1982), lives and works in Detroit, MI // @tiff_massey Tiff Massey is an interdisciplinary artist whose work is inspired by African standards of economic vitality and informed by her own experiences living in an industrial urban center in flux. Her artistic practice is influenced by the iconic material culture of 1980s hip-hop and explores contemporary class and race dynamics through the lens of the African Diaspora Ramzy Masri, (b. 1988), lives and works in New York, NY // @space.ram Ramzy Masri is a graphic designer, photographer and artist whose work celebrates the power and joy of being true to your authentic self. Ramzy invites viewers to reimagine the world as a colorful, magical queer-normative space where you can connect with your inner child and discover a more vibrant tomorrow. Jamilla Okubo, (b. 1993), lives and works in Washington, DC // @jamillaokubo Jamilla Okubo’s work draws on her American/Kenyan/Trinidadian identity and incorporates both ancestral and contemporary cultural wisdom. Combining elements of figurative painting, pattern and textile design, fashion, and storytelling, Jamilla celebrates the Black body in relation to movement, expression, ideology, and culture, and invites viewers to find a reflection of themselves in the context of community.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

Mural Locations in Birmingham

1922 3rd Ave N, Bessemer, AL 35020 ; Edie Fake
1908 11th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205 ; Jamilla Okubo
2306 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, 35203 ; Ramsy Masri
735 Eighth Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35204 ; Tiff Massey
625 19th Street Ensley, Birmingham, AL 35218 ; Troy Lamarr Chew

Artist Bios

Troy Lamarr Chew II, (b. 1992), lives and works in California // @troylamarrchew

Troy Lamarr Chew II uses painting to weave together narratives of contemporary Black culture and indigenous African visuals. The references to West African textiles and hip-hop culture in his work aim to reconnect African Americans with their African heritage after its intentional erasure through the legacy of American slavery and Jim Crow.

Edie Fake, b. 1980, lives and works in Twentynine Palms, CA // @ediefake

Edie Fake is a multimedia artist and transgender activist whose work addresses themes of gender, sexuality, and queer identity in the form of zines, prints, comics, drawings, tattoos, paintings, installations, and performances. This mural reflects Fake’s interest in depicting “ecstatic queer architectures” in the context of our rapidly changing social and political climate

Tiff Massey, (b. 1982), lives and works in Detroit, MI // @tiff_massey

Tiff Massey is an interdisciplinary artist whose work is inspired by African standards of economic vitality and informed by her own experiences living in an industrial urban center in flux. Her artistic practice is influenced by the iconic material culture of 1980s hip-hop and explores contemporary class and race dynamics through the lens of the African Diaspora

Ramzy Masri, (b. 1988), lives and works in New York, NY // @space.ram

Ramzy Masri is a graphic designer, photographer and artist whose work celebrates the power and joy of being true to your authentic self. Ramzy invites viewers to reimagine the world as a colorful, magical queer-normative space where you can connect with your inner child and discover a more vibrant tomorrow.

Jamilla Okubo, (b. 1993), lives and works in Washington, DC // @jamillaokubo

Jamilla Okubo’s work draws on her American/Kenyan/Trinidadian identity and incorporates both ancestral and contemporary cultural wisdom. Combining elements of figurative painting, pattern and textile design, fashion, and storytelling, Jamilla celebrates the Black body in relation to movement, expression, ideology, and culture, and invites viewers to find a reflection of themselves in the context of community.

Creative murals installed in Birmingham to encourage people to vote

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