COURTESY AT&T

Charlotte muralist Georgie Nakima stands in front of a mural commissioned for AT&T’s Black Future Makers initiative. The mural, “Georgie Nakima: To the Constellations of Ancestors in Our Bones, Thank You,” is on display in Dallas, Texas until March 31.

Charlotte muralist Georgie Nakima is getting national props for her art.

Nakima is artist in residence for AT&T’s Black Future Makers initiative, which includes a free public exhibition on display at the AT&T Showcase in Dallas, Texas. Her commissioned work “Georgie Nakima: To the Constellations of Ancestors in Our Bones, Thank You,” includes original organic, afro-futuristic style portraits. The solo exhibition produced in mixed media, will be on display until March 31.

Black Future Makers, which launched in 2018, is a monthlong program that showcases economic empowerment. The celebration includes recognition of forward-facing Black luminaries like John Legend and Kirk Franklin who shape culture and advocate for equity.

“The gravity of collaborating with AT&T as a Black Future Maker has been deeply humbling and empowering,” Nakima said in a statement. “As an artist, I’ve committed my career to championing and uplifting voices of the diaspora with colorful and restorative imagery. … It is an honor and dream to host this retrospective exhibit of my life’s work while celebrating the beauty and growth of our community and generation.”

Nakima, a Charlotte native also known as Garden of Journey, is one of Charlotte’s best-known muralists for her work from Beatties Ford Road to NoDa. In recent years, she collaborated with Janelle Dunlap on “Manifest Future,” a series of murals in Historic West End that reflect the people and history of Washington Heights and surrounding neighborhoods as well as provide a vision for the future.

Other works include designing a mural on the McCrorey YMCA basketball court as part of NBA All-Star Week in 2019 and collaboration with other artists on the Black Lives Matter Plaza in Center City in 2020.

Nakima, who majored in biology and minored in chemistry at Winston-Salem State University, trained as a scientist, but her path to expressing those fields is in painting canvases and murals.

Throughout February, AT&T is showcasing on emerging artists and creating opportunities for them.

“At AT&T, we believe that access opens the door to opportunities that help create equality for all,” said Corey Anthony, the company’s chief diversity and development officer. “That is why we will continue to invest in programs like Black Future Makers, that honor and elevate this community to support them in reaching their full potential.”

People can enter the Black Future Makers contest for a chance to win $10,000 by posting a video or photo on social media highlighting how they are pursuing greater possibilities. Posts must be accompanied by @ATT, #DreamInBlack and #ATTContest.

They can also visit AT&T stores to check out video portraits inspired by Nakima’s art of Black Future Maker honorees like actress/author Meagan Good, musicians Tobe Nwigwe and VINCINT as well as YouTuber Terrell Grice.

AT&T will reveal still and video portraits of Black Future Makers on its Instagram page and att.com/dreaminblack.

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