Barrett Keithley
Welcome to Barrett Keithley's website, the official home of Chicago-based artist Barrett Keithley. Through vibrant colors, layered textures, and powerful imagery, Barrett’s work celebrates African American culture, resilience, and beauty.
About the Artist
Barrett Keithley is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and community servant from the South Side of Chicago. He grew up in Roseland, also known as the Wild Hundreds, where his creative roots were shaped by both the challenges and the culture of his neighborhood. A self-taught artist with training in portrait and still life painting. Barrett uses his work to reflect the power, struggle, and beauty of the communities that raised him.What began as a personal outlet quickly evolved into a full-scale creative career. Barrett has produced major mural projects across the city — from the South and West Sides to the Loop — and commissions for organizations like NASCAR, The Lyric Opera, the Black McDonald’s Owners Association, and the Chicago Loop Alliance.He is also the founder of a non-profit called Paint the City where he partners with Chicago’s youth to create vibrant public art that tells community stories, inspires pride, and fosters creativity. Additionally he owns Crown B Studios, a cultural platform designed to spotlight and support emerging Black creators.Barrett’s work draws from Afrofuturism, street art and ancestral memory. Whether exhibited in galleries or painted on city walls, his art is rooted in a mission of service: to show people their beauty and, in doing so, awaken their brilliance.
A hidden World-About Barrett’s Process
Barrett Keithley begins each painting with line work that serves as both foundation and narrative. Sometimes these lines resemble people’s side profile or people’s hands. Other times, they unfold as fully realized abstract compositions in their own right, each capable of standing alone as a finished artwork.As layers of paint build, the line work recedes but never disappears. It continues to shape the composition, guiding rhythm, balance, and spatial flow. Each subsequent layer also holds its own integrity, contributing a unique narrative to the evolving work. Fragments of architecture, hints of abstraction, and hidden structures converge to create a singular, multilayered visual experience.Keithley’s paintings are not merely surfaces of color and form—they are layered worlds, each one grounded in the unseen yet deeply felt, where every layer could exist as a painting in its own right.
The People Series- A Limited Edition Collection
Barrett Keithley’s People Series is a powerful, episodic collection of installations unfolding in four chapters—each a story, each an experience, each a collector’s treasure. These works do not dictate their meaning; instead, they invite interpretation, placing the narrative in the hands of the audience.Every episode shines a light on Black culture while embodying strength, resilience, joy, and beauty. They serve as both mirrors of lived experience and windows into new ways of seeing.• Episode 1: Royale — A proclamation of dignity and regality, celebrating Black excellence and the nobility found in everyday life.
• Episode 2: The Constitution — A challenge and a reminder, asking who has been included, excluded, and redefined within America’s founding promises.
• Episode 3: Her — A tribute to the Black feminine spirit, honoring its power, grace, and unshakable presence.
• Episode 4: Angry Man — A raw, unflinching exploration of vulnerability beneath anger, reframing rage as a language of survival and resistance.Each work in the People Series is a collector’s item—exclusive, rare, and steeped in meaning. There is no guarantee these pieces will ever be released again, making every acquisition a moment in cultural history.You can view select works now at the virtual gallery, where a limited number are available for purchase. Step inside, explore, and claim your piece of the story before it disappears.
Murals & Public Art
King Me
2019 - Acrylic on canvas 12ft x 15ft
Ode To Our Ancestors
2021 - Spray paint and acrylic paint 18 ft x 40 ft
Bantu
2022 - Spray paint and acrylic 20 ft x 40 ft
Lyric Opera House, Factotum
2023 - Spray paint 60 ft x 30 ft
Community Engagement
Barrett Keithley’s artistic vision extends far beyond the canvas. Through his nonprofit, he creates opportunities for art to serve as a bridge—connecting people, uplifting communities, and reshaping public spaces. His mission is rooted in accessibility: making art something people can not only see, but feel, live with, and be inspired by.Barrett actively gives back by investing in youth programming, mentorship, and workshops that nurture the next generation of Black and Brown creatives. His nonprofit provides platforms for emerging voices, ensuring that creativity and self-expression are accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstance.Beyond programming, Barrett is committed to beautifying the city through his public works. His murals, installations, and community projects transform walls and shared spaces into vibrant stories, turning overlooked corners into cultural landmarks. Each piece not only enriches the landscape but also sparks conversation and pride, reminding residents that their neighborhoods hold beauty, power, and meaning.For Barrett, art is more than expression—it is offering. It is a way of giving back, building community, and leaving a legacy of color, resilience, and joy throughout the city.
Xperiences
Step into the world of curated vibes. Barrett also transmutes his art into Xperiences. Xperiences are showcases, events, and immersive moments brought to life- from open mics and live art shows to pop-ups, community activations, and elevated nightlife experiences. Every gathering is artfully designed to celebrate culture, connection, and creativity.
Media Appearances
'With Westside Mural, Barrett Keithley Aims to Reflect Positive Vibe From Black Barber Shops,'
Chicago Sun-Times (2023).‘Dozens of Murals Created After George Floyd Killing Now Displayed at DuSable Museum,'
Chicago Sun-Times (2022).‘Social justice art collective to help raise awareness for the 2020 census,'
Chicago Sun-Times (2020).‘Chicago Using Street Art To Improve Census Response,'
Forbes (2020).
Brand Partnerships
- Lyric Opera of Chicago
- Black McDonalds Owners Operators Associations
- NASCAR
- Broadway Chicago
- The Loop Alliance
- North Lawndale Employment Network
- Youth Guidance
- Wintrust
- Cazal
- Westside Health Authority
- BUILD
- Pigment Intl
- Chicago History Museum
- DuSable Museum
Contact
Want to work together? Feel free to reach out.[email protected]