A New Mural for Uptown Market
Author
Block
Author
Block
Partner Profiles is an interview series that spotlights Block’s community partners — both organizations and individuals — and the work they do to increase access to the economy.
In this installment, we talked with Timothy B, the artist behind the new mural in our Oakland Community Hub, commissioned by the Bay Area Mural Program (BAMP).
In March, the Bay Area Mural Program (BAMP) unveiled a colorful new mural in Oakland’s Uptown Station building, which houses Block’s downtown offices. The mural decorates Uptown Market in the building’s ground floor Oakland Community Hub, a Block-founded space dedicated to supporting local community groups, sellers, and artists. BAMP is a nonprofit program that fosters collaboration between local artists and the community — the organization also curates an art program throughout the community hub. For the Uptown Market mural, BAMP commissioned Oakland painter Timothy B to create a work celebrating the community. He delivered. We sat down with the artist to talk about creative inspiration, entrepreneurship, and the power of public art.
What about Oakland inspires you, and how does it show up in your art?
I think we have a very beautiful culture [in Oakland], from the music and fashion, to our language and how we communicate with one another, especially within certain communities. I don't know what that is, but [Oaklanders] just have our own style in the way that we go about everything. We really have a tribe mindset. So I'm inspired by how we express ourselves, how we talk, how we think, and the love that we show to one another.
When did you start exploring art? As a kid?
Art has always been something I enjoy. As early as I can remember, I was into it. My mom was one of my biggest supporters growing up. She wasn't a visual artist, but she saw my ability and always encouraged me to follow that path.
“I want people from all different sides of Oakland to see the painting and think about their own experience in the city, to feel inspired about how the culture can continue going forward.”
What led you to creating murals? I read somewhere that you started as a tattoo artist.
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. And when I was starting out, I was trying to figure out how to make money from my art. So I started drawing tattoos for people, but it wasn’t until I saw someone come back with one of my designs as a tattoo that I thought, “Oh, I bet I could do that.” Along with that, I went to a tattoo convention and it was my first time seeing a Black tattoo artist. I had been following their work before, but seeing them in person gave me the belief that I could be in this world.
It wasn’t until I moved back to Oakland, started working at Oakland Ink, that I realized tattooing — working in a studio — wasn’t for me. I wanted to be outside, be in the community. But also I wanted to see my art broadcasted for the world to see. That’s what got me exploring muraling. I met some guys who were painting a mural, and they invited me to come paint. And I fell in love with it instantly. And I never looked back.
Looking at your work, I connect elements to Afrofuturism. Did that movement influence your style for this work?
Yes. I think it’s important for Black people to see themselves in the future, especially because in the past there were no depictions of us in the future. So it’s time to make change.
Another thing that inspired [this mural] was old school Oakland. I grew up during the hyphy movement. So remembering aspects of the movement, the dances, the fashion that came out during that time — I wanted to show reflections of that, and explore how it could look going forward. Because a lot of us are still hyphing…we still have that creativity, that energy, that fire. And how do we preserve that culture now that our city is changing, the landscape and culture are changing?
Author
Block
Partner Profiles is an interview series that spotlights Block’s community partners — both organizations and individuals — and the work they do to increase access to the economy.
In this installment, we talked with Timothy B, the artist behind the new mural in our Oakland Community Hub, commissioned by the Bay Area Mural Program (BAMP).
In March, the Bay Area Mural Program (BAMP) unveiled a colorful new mural in Oakland’s Uptown Station building, which houses Block’s downtown offices. The mural decorates Uptown Market in the building’s ground floor Oakland Community Hub, a Block-founded space dedicated to supporting local community groups, sellers, and artists. BAMP is a nonprofit program that fosters collaboration between local artists and the community — the organization also curates an art program throughout the community hub. For the Uptown Market mural, BAMP commissioned Oakland painter Timothy B to create a work celebrating the community. He delivered. We sat down with the artist to talk about creative inspiration, entrepreneurship, and the power of public art.
What about Oakland inspires you, and how does it show up in your art?
I think we have a very beautiful culture [in Oakland], from the music and fashion, to our language and how we communicate with one another, especially within certain communities. I don't know what that is, but [Oaklanders] just have our own style in the way that we go about everything. We really have a tribe mindset. So I'm inspired by how we express ourselves, how we talk, how we think, and the love that we show to one another.
When did you start exploring art? As a kid?
Art has always been something I enjoy. As early as I can remember, I was into it. My mom was one of my biggest supporters growing up. She wasn't a visual artist, but she saw my ability and always encouraged me to follow that path.
“I want people from all different sides of Oakland to see the painting and think about their own experience in the city, to feel inspired about how the culture can continue going forward.”
What led you to creating murals? I read somewhere that you started as a tattoo artist.
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. And when I was starting out, I was trying to figure out how to make money from my art. So I started drawing tattoos for people, but it wasn’t until I saw someone come back with one of my designs as a tattoo that I thought, “Oh, I bet I could do that.” Along with that, I went to a tattoo convention and it was my first time seeing a Black tattoo artist. I had been following their work before, but seeing them in person gave me the belief that I could be in this world.
It wasn’t until I moved back to Oakland, started working at Oakland Ink, that I realized tattooing — working in a studio — wasn’t for me. I wanted to be outside, be in the community. But also I wanted to see my art broadcasted for the world to see. That’s what got me exploring muraling. I met some guys who were painting a mural, and they invited me to come paint. And I fell in love with it instantly. And I never looked back.
Looking at your work, I connect elements to Afrofuturism. Did that movement influence your style for this work?
Yes. I think it’s important for Black people to see themselves in the future, especially because in the past there were no depictions of us in the future. So it’s time to make change.
Another thing that inspired [this mural] was old school Oakland. I grew up during the hyphy movement. So remembering aspects of the movement, the dances, the fashion that came out during that time — I wanted to show reflections of that, and explore how it could look going forward. Because a lot of us are still hyphing…we still have that creativity, that energy, that fire. And how do we preserve that culture now that our city is changing, the landscape and culture are changing?