The Past Illuminates The Present - Dr. Thomas E. Lockhart III

16" X 24" Canvas Print. Created for the Pigmented Black Fine Art Faire

In the piece, Chicago’s spirit radiates through brushstrokes and symbols. The city’s story begins in the 1940s with the founding of the South Side Community Art Center and the American Negro Exposition.  At the composition’s heart stands Jean Baptiste Point de Sable, Chicago’s visionary founder, anchoring the work in Black ingenuity, resilience, and leadership. Lockhart threads together the elegance of Black dandyism, the promise of Afrofuturism, and the artistry of cultural trailblazers such as Dr. Margaret Burroughs, Gordon Parks, and Eldzier Cortor. Swahili symbols, bold patterns, and vibrant motifs honor a legacy of creativity and social progress.

From the city flag to its iconic skyline, every detail invites viewers to honor the past while envisioning a future where unity, culture, and innovation shine brighter than ever. The piece also carries a resonant message from civil rights leader Willie Barrow, the “Little Warrior”: “We are not so much divided as we are disconnected.”