Brian Dickson Jr.
In this day and age, considering one’s thoughts before speaking — not merely reacting but carefully constructing responses — is an art unto itself. With that in mind, one could say local mixed media creator Brian Dickson Jr. has dual disciplines in the art world. And his thoughtful, contemplative approach to communicating comes across in his work and his choice of projects, which highlight the beauty of the Black community while exposing injustices in society.
Currently a gallery assistant and education coordinator at Letitia and Sedrick Huckaby’s collaborative project space, Kinfolk House, Dickson was one of the artists chosen for Fort Worth Public Art’s mentorship program in late 2022. With this program and grant, Dickson will have a hand in the creation of the Rosedale Street underpass improvement project. The project, at the intersection of Rosedale Street and Interstate 35, will enhance underpass lighting and create a safe pathway for pedestrians and cyclists. This pathway, which stretches over 80 feet, will include engaging art by the likes of Dickson and is slated to open to the public in 2025.
His aptitude for both art and activism came at a young age. As a preschooler, he used his grandmother’s bathroom wall — what he deems his “first canvas” — to create, with a combination of nail polish and Sharpies, mixed media pieces. Visitors to the home can still see these works today.
By first grade, Dickson gained recognition from his teachers who consistently entered his work into competitions. But his work, shockingly, would struggle to come out on top.
“At an early age, I was learning how to cope with rejection because I never won any competitions throughout elementary school,” Dickson says. “Despite this, my teacher saw something in me, enough to recognize my value and worth, and continued to submit my work.”
By middle school, he was looking to say something with his art, to address and expose social ills and challenge his audience. “I would speak out on controversial topics, such as issues affecting the Black community and communities of color, as well as individuals living in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods,” he says. “From there, I began to find my voice.”
Realizing he had been a mixed media artist at home — using whatever materials he could find due to financial constraints — Dickson would begin leaning into this medium. He credits his art teacher, Megan York, with helping him to remove limitations on his art. High school would also provide him with the language to describe his work, and he felt encouraged to explore and experiment further. Dickson would go on to become one of the inaugural graduates of Paul Laurence Dunbar Young Men’s Leadership Academy in East Fort Worth.
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Staying in town, the young artist would earn a full-ride scholarship to TCU through its Community Scholar Program. Off University Drive, Dickson continued to practice and experiment, including with oil painting, and resumed his focus on activism. He would use his own experiences with covert racism as a springboard.
“[Covert racism] is different from overt racism,” Dickson says. “Covert racism is more sinister, requiring a level of discernment to understand the language and rhetoric. It’s hidden, secretive, and masked behind wide smiles and firm handshakes. It’s very much still real, and that’s what my work began to expose.”
Since enrolling at TCU, students and campus visitors have had a front-row seat to Dickson’s art. In 2021, he worked with the TCU Department of Theatre to create art for promotional material for performances of “For Bo: A Play Inspired by the Murder of Botham Jean by Officer Amber Guyger.” And he collaborated with artist Kristian Gaytan on a campus mural that’s housed in the new TCU Intercultural Center.
Dickson has also remained active with art outside of the university. In September of last year, Dickson was chosen to represent the Huckabys’ Kinfolk House, at the Rising Star Art Competition in Oak Cliff. His work was featured among selections from other notable galleries in DFW, including Artspace 111, Fort Works Art, and Daisha Board Gallery.
Having been at the Kinfolk House since June 2022, Dickson has been able to work alongside world-renowned Huckabys, who have shown in exhibitions across the U.S. They, along with local artist and arts writer, Jessica Fuentes, have helped inform his practice. “It’s been a blessing to be able to work closely with the artists that they invite to exhibit at Kinfolk House,” Dickson says. “I’ve gained a lot of wisdom and knowledge.”
Dickson will soon graduate from UNT with a master’s degree, after which he plans to continue his work in the community as a teacher, paying forward the inspiration he attained from his own educators.
“I think that being in the classroom will be a great experience for me because I genuinely enjoy encouraging people,” he says. “I believe that in the classroom, many of our youth need substantial encouragement, especially in communities like where I’m from. I recognize the profound impact that a teacher’s encouragement can have on an individual.”
