BIO
Brett Cook is an interdisciplinary artist and educator who uses storytelling to distill complex ideas and creative practices to transform outer and inner worlds of being.
His elaborate installations feature painting, drawing, and photography to tell pluralistic stories with broad representation. His public projects typically involve community workshops featuring arts-integrated pedagogy and contemplative strategies—along with music, performance, and food—to create a fluid boundary between art making, daily life, and healing.
Teaching and public speaking are extensions of Cook’s social practice that involve communities in dialogue to generate experiences of reflection and insight. He has taught at all academic levels in a variety of subjects, and published in academic journals from the Maryland Institute College of Art and Harvard University, among others. In 2009, he published Who Am I in This Picture: Amherst College Portraits with Wendy Ewald and Amherst College Press, and in 2015, Clouds in a Teacup with Thich Nhat Hanh and Parallax Press. He was formerly a Visiting Professor in Community Arts/Social Practice and Diversity Studies at California College of the Arts and Director of Social Practice and Pedagogy at San Francisco State University Healthy Equity Institute.
Cook has received numerous awards, including the Lehman Brady Visiting Professorship at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Richard Diebenkorn Teaching Fellowship at the San Francisco Art Institute. Recognized for a history of socially relevant, community-engaged projects he was selected as cultural ambassador to Nigeria as part of the U.S. Department of State’s 2012 smARTpower initiative. His work is in private and public collections including the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, the Walker Art Center, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and Harvard University. He is a trustee of A Blade of Grass, an arts nonprofit dedicated to social engagement.
Featured Press
Brett Cook Reflects on 30 Years of Socially Conscious Art
Eric Arnold, KQED, May 11, 2023
PUBLIC PROJECTS | SOLO EXHIBITIONS | GROUP EXHIBITIONS | SELECTED COLLECTIONS | AWARDS, GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS | PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS & LECTURES | PROFESSIONAL SERVICE | SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY | SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AS AUTHOR | TEACHING EXPERIENCE
PUBLIC PROJECTS
2024
The Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA
2021-23
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
Life is Living, Oakland, CA
2020
Life is Living Opening and Media Party, Oakland, CA
Alchemy of the Reset, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
The Black W(H)ole, with Marc Bamuthi Joseph and Destiny Arts, Oakland, CA
PATH EDvance Evaluation, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
2019
Art For Everyone: The Delaware Mural Project, Ross Museum of Art and Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH
2018
Art for Change: Eastern Philanthropies Documentary Project, Oakland, CA
Tenderloin Public Project, The Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Serving One Another, Euphrat Museum of Art, De Anza Community College, Cupertino, CA
2017
Generations, Alice Griffith Public Housing, San Francisco, CA
Benioff Community Innovation Project, San Francisco, CA
Call for Beauty, Root Division, San Francisco, CA
2016
Models of Interconnectedness: Documenting Collaborations of Transformation, Kimball Education Gallery, de Young Museum Residency, San Francisco, CA
Kingswood Oxford School, Goodman Banks Artist in Residence, CT
Black Joy with Marc Bamuthi, Euphrat Museum of Art, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
Burning Ice, Euphrat Museum of Art, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
2015
HOPE SF Arts and Healing Assessment, San Francisco Main Public Library, and community sites, San Francisco, CA
Clouds in a Teacup: A Mindful Journey and Coloring Book, with Parallax Press
2014
Reflections of Healing, Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA
Socially Engaged Education: Making Learning Visible
2013
Future Soul Think Tank, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
West Oakland Reflections of Healing, Oakland Parks & Recreation, Oakland, CA
Reflections of Healing, Oakland Parks & Recreation, Oakland, CA
2012
smARTpower with Bronx Museum of the Arts, U.S. State Department, University of Lagos, and Women and Youth Art Foundation, Lagos and Ibadan, Nigeria
Reflection Action Assessment Festival, Integrated Learning Summer Institute Alameda County Office of Education and Chabot Space and Science Center, CA
Life is Living with YouthSpeaks and Town Park, DeFremery Park, Oakland, CA
2011
Reflections of Healing, Oakland, CA
2010
Life is Living with YouthSpeaks, DeFremery Park, Oakland, CA
2009
Face Up: Telling Stories of Community Life, Durham, NC
2008
Amherst Community Portraits, Amherst College, Amherst, MA
2007
Building Community Making History Collaborative Project, National Portrait Gallery and Duke Ellington School for the Arts, Washington D.C.
Healing the Past and Creating the Future in the Present Moment, Duke University Center for Documentary Studies, Durham NC
2006
Reflections Collaborative Project, San Francisco Bay Area
Thinking Back, Looking Forward, Empire State Partnerships Summer Seminar, Long Island University NY
Identity of Interbeing Collaborative Project, Packer Collegiate Academy, Brooklyn NY
2005
San Francisco Art Institute Collaboration Intensive, CA
Dialogue Collaboration Project
Headlands Center for the Arts Collaborative Open House Project, Sausalito CA
Healing Our Families, Building True Community, Deer Park Monastery, Escondido CA
2004
Revolution: Celebrate Harlem 127th Street, New York NY
Reinvented: A Collaboration Workshop with Wendy Ewald and Galeria de Luz, Oaxaca, Mexico
Philadelphia Department of Recreation Mural Arts Program Collaborative Projects PA
Headlands Center for the Arts Peace and Mindfulness Collaborative Project, Marin CA
Bowling Green Collaborative project, Bowling Green OH
2003
Wayne State University Collaborative Community Project, Detroit MI
Martin Luther King Jr.- AHIMSA project, Harlem NY
2002
June Jordan Collaborative Project, Harlem NY
South (Central) Los Angeles – Divine, West Vernon Elementary/6 Months space Los Angeles, CA
Columbus: Tobacco West Central Health District Dept. of Health, Columbus GA
Learning Buckingham, Browne and Nichols Project Cambridge MA
2001
Information for Peace and Democracy, CAP project, Bronx Museum, Bronx NY
Harvard (De)Segregation, Harvard School of Education, Cambridge MA
Harlem Development/Gentrification Project, Harlem NY
Chatham/Art Omi Collaborative Project, Chatham NY
Learning: Buckingham, Browne and Nichols Project, Cambridge MA
2000
Issues of Hip-Hop (Society), Brooklyn NY
Issues of Barbados, with Pedro Nogeura/University of West Indies, Barbados
Public Work, 6th St. Photo Workshop/Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco CA
Learning: Greenwich Country Day School, Greenwich CT
Community Healthcare Network/Lower East Side Center, New York NY
Separations, University of California, San Diego CA
Slivers of Truth, Nyack NY
1999
The Tenderloin Project, San Francisco CA
Identities of Southampton, Southampton NY
Public Work, Greenwich Country Day School, Greenwich CT
Community Healthcare Network/Lower East Side Center, New York NY
Service and Protection P.S. 1, Long Island City NY
1998
Expressions of Harlem, Harlem NY
Communal Resolutions, First Night Newark Celebration, Newark NJ
1997
All You Can Eat (Capitalism), Railroad Square Cinema, Waterville ME
See What I See, Public work with Satellite Academy students, New York NY
Sunny Days Critical Times, with Satellite Academy, New York NY
1994
Afrikans, Public Work, McClymmons High School, Oakland CA
Public Work, Cohen Alley, San Francisco CA
1993
Public Work, 6th St. Photo Workshop, San Francisco CA
Relative Concerns, SF Arts Commission, San Francisco CA
1992
Homelessness, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco CA
Teaching-Learning Public Work, SF MOMA, San Francisco CA
1990
Commission for the City of San Francisco, Youth Expo at City Hall, San Francisco CA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2016
Models of Interconnectedness, de Young Museum, San Francisco CA
2010
Supernatural, Guerrero Gallery, San Francisco CA
2008
Face Up, Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, Durham NC
2006
Identity of Interbeing, Carol Shen Gallery, Brooklyn, New York
Reflections, White Walls Gallery, San Francisco CA
2005
Meditations, Wesleyan University, Middletown CT
2004
Reflections of Revolution, Provisions Gallery/GAEA Foundation Washington D.C.
Blackness, Stony Brook University, Long Island NY
2003
Revolution, P·P·O·W, New York NY
2001
MultiFaceted, P·P·O·W, New York NY
1998
Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, Augusta GA
1997
Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck NJ
1994
Politically Correct? David Raymond Fine Arts, San Francisco CA
1993
Automatic, Intersection for the Arts, San Francisco CA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
Brett Cook and Liz Lerman: Reflection and Action, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco CA
Tarot in Pandemic and Revolution, Community Arts Stabilization Trust, San Francisco, CA
2019
FTP, SOMARTS, San Francisco CA
2018
Serving One Another, Euphrat Museum of Art Cupertino CA
2017
Call For Beauty, Root Division, San Francisco CA
2016
Black Joy with Marc Bamuthi Joseph and Harlem Stage, New York NY
Burning Ice, Euphrat Museum of Art, Cupertino CA
VIRAL: 25 Years from Rodney King, The Durón Gallery/SPARC, Los Angeles CA
Katherine Sherwood, Worth Ryder Gallery, University of California, Berkeley CA
2015
Drifting In Daylight: Art In Central Park with Marc Bamuthi Joseph & Creative Time
Directions Given – Directions Taken, Southern Exposure, San Francisco CA
2014
Room for Big Ideas: BAN 7, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco CA
2013
Transformative Visions, One Life Institute, Oakland CA
2012
CPT: Time History and Memory, Gallatin Galleries, New York University NY
Forgotten Stories, Remarkable Lives, Oakland Museum of California
2011
Nothing to Say, Guerrero Gallery, San Francisco CA
Urban Hieroglyphics, Joyce Gordon Gallery, Oakland CA
2010
Collected. Black and White, Studio Museum of Harlem, New York NY
How We Roll: Black Engagement in Skateboarding, California African-American Museum, Los Angeles CA
Dia De Los Muertos, Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, San Francisco CA
2007
Portraiture Now Smithsonian/National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Amherst Portraits with Wendy Ewald, Mead Museum, Amherst MA
Core Values of Social Change, Nathan Cummings Foundation, New York NY
2005
Change Methods Provisions Gallery Washington D.C.
Walls of Heritage Walls of Pride, Smithsonian Anacostia Museum
Contemporary Portraiture, Snug Harbor Museum, Staten Island NY
The Other Mainstream, Arizona State University Museum, Tempe AZ
2004
Social Studies/Brown V. Board of Ed. 40th Anniversary, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Walls of Heritage, Walls of Pride, The Cambridge Arts Council, Cambridge MA
Impact: New Mural Projects PPOW, New York NY
2003
Community Interactions, Wayne State University Gallery, Detroit MI
Black President Exhibition New Museum of Contemporary Art NY
2002
Cut, Pulled, Colored & Burnt, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago IL
Social Landscape, P·P·O·W, New York NY
2001
Boomerang: Collector’s Choice, Exit Art, New York NY
One Planet Under A Groove: Hip Hop & Contemporary Art, Bronx Museum NY
Hip-Hop Nation, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco CA
InSite/OutSite, Apex Art, New York NY
2000
Identity Show, Parrish Art Museum, Southampton NY
1999
Generation Z, P.S. 1/MoMA, Long Island City NY
New Voices/New Vision, University of California San Diego, San Diego CA
1998
The Choice, Exit Art, New York NY
Artists in Residence Exhibition, Studio Museum of Harlem, New York NY
New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowship Jersey City Museum NJ
1997
Sunny Days/Critical Times, The Bohen Foundation, New York NY
1996
Thread Waxing Space, New York NY
New Jersey Biennial, Ben Shahn Gallery, William Patterson College NJ
1995
Alternative Museum, New York NY
20th Anniversary Show, City Without Walls, Newark NJ
1994
Capp Street Project, San Francisco CA
South of Market Cultural Center Gallery, San Francisco CA
Southern Exposure’s 20th Anniversary Exhibition, San Francisco CA
1993
San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, San Francisco CA
Swig/Watkins Award Exhibition, New Langton Arts, San Francisco CA
1992
Luggage Store Gallery, 509 Cultural Center, San Francisco CA
1991
Wet Paint, Southern Exposure Gallery, San Francisco CA
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Smithsonian Institution/National Portrait Gallery
Walker Art Center
Studio Museum of Harlem
Harvard University
Yili Art Foundation
Frances Greenberger Foundation
Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute Mysore, India
Ashtanga Yoga Shala New York City
Greenwich Country Day School
Buckingham, Browne and Nichols School
Satelite Academy, New York City
Mikki and Stanley Weithorn Collection
Joel and Nancy Portnoy Collection
Peggy Cafritz Collection
Sharon and Lincoln Turner Collection
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS & LECTURES
2022
Panelist, Carlos Villa: Worlds in Collision Exhibition, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA
Panelist, International Day of Tolerance, MTO Shahmaghsoudi Global School of Islamic Sufism
Presenter, Hip Hop in Urban America, University of California Davis, Davis, CA
2021
Keynote, MLK Jr. Legacy week, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn NY
2020
Presenter, For Freedom’s Congress, MOCA Los Angeles, CA
2019
Speaker, HAAS Othering and Belonging Conference, Oakland CA
2018
Panelist, Imagining the Social, Guggenheim Museum, New York NY
Panelist, Carlos Villa: Worlds In Collision, Berkeley Art Museum, Berkeley CA
Presenter, American Arts Incubator, ZERO1/U.S. Department of State
Visiting Artist Lecture, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn NY
2017
Panelist, Does Art Have Users Symposia, SFMOMA, San Francisco CA
Presenter/Workshop, Seeing Social Practice, SFMOMA, San Francisco CA
(UN)Making podcast with Weston Teruya and Art Practical
Creative and Artist process in Equitable Development, PolicyLink, Oakland CA
2016
Visiting Professor, California College for the Arts CA
Moderator, Health Equity Institute Symposia, San Francisco State University CA
Presenter, Open Engagement, Oakland Museum of California CA
Presenter, Cross Sector Conference, Arts Research Center at UC Berkeley CA
Panelist, Anderson Collection, Stanford University, Palo Alto CA
2015
Panelist, Center for Documentary Studies, Duke University, Durham NC
Visiting Artist Lecture, NYU Graduate School of Education, New York NY
Public Presentation, Democracy Alliance Annual Convening, San Francisco CA
Visiting Artist, California College of the Arts (CCA), Oakland CA
2014
Art and Activism Lecture Series, University of California, Berkeley CA
Public Lecture on Color, Creative Mornings, HUB Oakland CA
Public Dialogue, Commonweal, Bolinas CA
2013
Public Dialogue/Visiting Artist, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia PA
Public Dialogue – April 19, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Inventing Our Future Presentation and Workshop, Chabot Science Center, Oakland CA
Creative Place Making and Public Art Webinar, Americans for the Arts
What We Made: Conversations on Social Art, Vera List Center, New York NY
Public talk w/Jeff Chang, Contemporary Jewish Art Museum, San Francisco
2012
Alliance for Arts Learning Leadership, Alameda County Office of Education
Presenter, smARTpower – Sharing Culture, Omenka Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria
Presenter, smARTpower – Sharing Culture, University of Lagos, Nigeria
Visiting Artist, smARTpower – Workshops, University of Lagos, Nigeria
Public Dialogue, smARTpower – Sharing Culture, A Dialogue of Community and Interconnectedness, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Visiting Artist, smARTpower – Sharing Culture, The Women and Youth Arts Foundation, Ibadan, Nigeria
Visiting Artist, smARTpower – Sharing Culture Workshop, All Saints College, Ibadan, Nigeria
2011
Panelist, Department of Education, Washington University, St. Louis MO
Panelist, Grantmakers In the Arts conference, San Francisco, CA
Visiting Painting Professor, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco CA
Visiting Speaker, Thought Experiments, Mural Arts Program, Philadelphia PA
Presenter, Open Engagement Conference Portland State University Portland OR
2010
Speaker, College Art Association Conference, Chicago IL
Panelist, Transformative Curriculum Design, Maryland Institute College of Art
Panelist, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco CA
2009
Panelist Transformations Conference, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
Public Dialogue/Visiting Artist, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia PA
Public Dialogue Collaborative Aesthetics Washington University, St. Louis MO
2008
Public Dialogue/Workshop, Intersection for the Arts, San Francisco CA
Public Dialogue/Visiting Artist, California State University at Monterey Bay
Lehman Brady Visiting Joint Chair Professorship in Documentary Studies and American Studies at Duke and UNC–Chapel Hill NC
Dialogue on Art and Social Collaboration The Nasher Art Museum, Duke University Durham NC
Public Dialogue – Page-Walker Arts and History Center, Cary NC
Keynote Discussion, Public Art 360, Hanes Art Center, Chapel Hill NC
2007
Commencement Speech University of California, Berkeley, May 18, Berkeley CA
Professor of Collaborative Art w/Wendy Ewald, Amherst College, Amherst MA
Public Dialogue San Francisco State University, San Francisco CA
Public Dialogue Durham, NC
Public Dialogue – April 19, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Public Dialogue – W/Katherine Sherwood UC Berkeley, Berkeley CA
2006
Graduate Seminar – San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
Visiting Artist Series/Dialogue – San Jose State University San Jose CA
Visiting Artist/Dialogue – Amherst MA
Art Lecture Series/Dialogue – SUNY New Paltz NY
2005
San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco CA
Dialogue Collaboration, Wesleyan University Middletown, CT
San Francisco State University – San Francisco CA
Visiting Artist Presentation – Washington University, St. Louis MO
Panelist – NYSCA Upstate History Alliance Rochester, NY
2004
Galeria De Luz Collaboration workshop with Wendy Ewald. Oaxaca, Mexico
Philadelphia International Mural Conference Presentation, Philadelphia, PA
Collaboration Panel, Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito, CA
TRUCE/NEA visiting artist project, Harlem, NY
Visiting Artist, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
Visiting Artist, Bowling Green, OH
Weekend Fellow/Presentation, Gaea Foundation, Washington, D.C.
Peace and Democracy, at the Democracy Collaborative, University of Maryland
Visiting Artist, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Visiting Artist, Stony Brook University, Long Island, NY
2003
Art in the Public Realm, College of New Jersey, NJ
Visiting Teacher, West Vernon Elementary/6 Months Art Space, Los Angeles, CA
Visiting Educator/Artist, Duke Center for Documentary Studies, NC
History and Democracy lecture/event, New York University, New York, NY
Moderator, Dialogue: Collaboration, the New School and Queens Museum, NY
Featured Panelist, National Black Fine Arts Show, Puck Building NY
South Hampton Schools, Parrish Museum, Southampton, NY
2002
Presenter, Coalition for Essential Schools Conference, Washington, D.C.
Teaching/Curriculum development at Buckingham, Browne and Nichols School, Cambridge, MA
Lecture, Brooklyn College Visiting Artist Program, Brooklyn, NY
Lecture, College of New Rochelle visiting artist Program, New Rochelle, NY
“Collaboration for Peace and Democracy” Triple Candie Artist Lecture Series 9/10/02 NY
“Visual Artist and Collaboration” NYCMER conference w/Guggenheim Museum
Collaborative Art Luncheon at New School University, New York, NY
Visiting Artist “Brett Cook-Dizney: Concept, Technique and Social Change” Wayne State University, Detroit, MI “Public Art; Problems and Process” The Art School at Snug Harbor, Staten Island, NY
2001
Lecturer, Askwith Forum Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA
AWARDS, GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS
2023
California Arts Council Legacy Artist Fellow
Bay Area Hip Hop Archives Honoree
2022
Rainin – USA Artists Fellowship for Public Space
Robert Rauschenberg Residency, Captiva Island, FL
2021-20
The Exploratorium Artist in Residence, San Francisco, CA
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Senior Fellow, San Francisco CA
2019
Rainin Open Spaces, with Destiny Arts, Oakland CA
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts 100, San Francisco CA
2016
British Council Peace Building and the Arts Assembly
2015
University of California, Berkeley Institute of Urban and Regional Development Community Fellow
2014
A Blade of Grass Fellow for Socially Engaged Art Inaugural Fellow
Oakland Museum of California Public Project
Akonadi Foundation Fellowship
2013
Oakland Cultural Funding Program, City of Oakland, Oakland CA
2012
U.S. Department of State and Bronx Museum of the Arts smARTpower Ambassador to Nigeria
2011
Open Circle Foundation Fellowship
Sea Change Residency, Provincetown MA
2010
NEA Artist in Residence with YouthSpeaks, San Francisco CA
Alternative Exposure Grant, Southern Exposure, San Francisco CA
2009
Americans for the Arts/Public Art Network national public works award
2008
Lehman Brady Visiting Joint Chair Professor in Documentary Studies at Duke University and American Studies UNC – Chapel Hill NC
2007
Artist Fellowship, North Carolina Arts Council NC
Artist Residency, Duke University’s Center Community Engagement/Art History, Durham NC
2005
Richard C. Diebenkorn Fellowship, San Francisco Art Institute CA
2004
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation with Mural Arts Program of Philadelphia PA
Headlands Center for the Arts Bridge Residency, Sausalito CA
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council NYC
2003
The Puffin Foundation
2002
The Jacob Lawrence Institute for the Visual Arts
The Rheedlen University for Community Education (TRUCE)
2001
Art Omi International
1998
The Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, New Jersey State Council on the Arts
1997
The Studio Museum of Harlem Artist In Residence Fellowship NY
Skowhegan Residency/Camille Hanks Cosby Fellowship
1996
ArtMatters Grant
1994
Precita Eyes Arts Center, Best New Muralist Award, San Francisco CA
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2023
Arnold, Eric. “Brett Cook Reflects on 30 Years of Socially Conscious Art”, KQED Arts, May 11
Fletcher, E. & Bisser A. Zebracki M. & McNeil Z. Politics As Public Art “Art-Making and World Building: Arendt and the Political Potential For Socially Engaged Practices”. Routledge.
2019
Comstock, Paul. “Delaware Murals Portray ‘Community’”, Delaware This Week, October 11
2018
Menconi, Steve. “Euphrat Museum’s New Exhibition Delves Into Caregiving, Healing” Mercury News, February 2
2017
Layiwola, Peju. “Transcultural Conversation: American and Nigerian Art in Dialogue” NKA Journal of Contemporary African Art 41, November
2016
Grady, Elizabeth M. Future Imperfect, A Blade of Grass Books, New York
2015
Alvarez, Maribel L. Trusting What We Don’t Know: Lessons from an Experiment in Art, Environment and Philanthropy in California’s East Bay, Open Circle Foundation Publication, July
2014
Kiyoizumi, Aj. “Brett Cook’s Portrait Series Aims to Heal Oakland” East Bay Express, October 15
2013
Finkelpearl, Tom. What We Made: Conversations on Art and Social Collaboration. Duke University Press.
2010
Leaverton, Michael. “Figures of Action” SF Weekly, May 26
Vagner, Kris. “Public Participation is Art” San Francisco Examiner, May 27
EKG, Studio Visit, KQED Arts, May 30
Heidi J. De Vries, “Supernatural” Engineer’s Daughter, June 12
2009
Weissman, Jane. On the Wall: Four Decades of Community Murals in New York City
Jacoby, Annice. Street Art San Francisco, Abrams
2008
Natale, Michelle. Review, Face UP Exhibition, Raleigh News and Observer
Boutilier, Emily Gold. Amherst Magazine Winter
2007
Rickard, Carolyn. “History In The Art” The Herald-Sun, November 19
2006
Richard Diebenkorn Fellowship article, San Francisco Art Institute Magazine
2005
Muralist Profile Feature, Public Art Review Fall/Winter
2003
Sarah Valdez. Art In America, December
Liv Wright. International Review of African American Art, Hampton U. 18:4
Catalogue Black President: Fela Kuti New Museum of Art
2002
Cook, Brett. Interview TRACE magazine spring
Garvey, Marianne. “Portraits for the People is Artist’s Aim” New York Post
Gierer, Larry. Activist Art, Columbus Ledger Enquirer, April 26th
2001
Tahashi, Corey. One World One Groove New York Newsday, October
Catalogue One Planet Under a Groove: Hip-Hop and Contemporary Art, Bronx Museum of Art
Reid, Calvin. Review, Art In America, October
Soloman, Deborah. The Downtowning of Uptown, The New York Times Magazine, August 16
Leland, John. In the Ateliers of Harlem, The New York Times, June 14, p. F9.
Folkes, Toure. Flippin’ the Lens, Volume.com, June
Sullivan James. Hip-Hop Nation Show has a Rap on Black Culture, The San Francisco Chronicle, May 17, p. D1.
Cotter, Holland. Review, The New York Times, May 11.
Fasching-Gray, Benjamin. (Art listings), Shout, May, p. 10.
Levin, Kim. Short List, The Village Voice, May 1, p. 80.
Worth, Alexi. Review, The New Yorker, April 23, p. 37.
Perez, Miriam. The Education of Clinton Hill, City Limits Magazine, February
2000
Lee, Felicia. A Hip-Hop Artist Brings It All Back Home, The New York Times
Prigoff, Jim and Robin Dunix. Walls of Heritage-Walls of Pride, Pomegranate Press
Henn, Jennifer. Artist Joins in Student’s Search for Identities, Southampton Press
1999
Heiss, Alanna. Interview, Conaissance Des Arts
Keatings, Peter. The Color of Joy, Blaze Magazine
Caccamise, Bob. WABC News,
1998
NY1 News, Expressions of Harlem
Young, Victoria. Where Art Often Mourns, Memorials to Life, New York Times
Brackett, Charmain Z., Artist Combines Messages in Works, Augusta Chronicle
1997
Pickett, Dar la L., Artist Paints a Message, Maine Sentinel
1996
Drescher, Timothy W. Street Dialectics: The Art of Brett Cook Dizney, Urbanus
1995
Watkins, Eileen. Review of New Jersey Arts Annual, New Jersey Star Ledger
Raynor, Vivien. City With Out Walls 20th Anniversary Show, New York Times
1994
Baker, Kenneth. Review, San Francisco Chronicle/Examiner
Roche, Harry. San Francisco Bay Guardian
Drescher, Timothy W., San Francisco Community Murals, Pogo Press
1993
Roche, Harry. Critic’s Choice, San Francisco Bay Guardian
Helfand, Glen. Critic’s Choice, San Francisco Weekly
Leonard, Andrew. Critic’s Choice, San Francisco Bay Guardian
1992
Porges, Maria. On the Scene, San Francisco, CA, Artweek ArtSpace Magazine
1991
Brezinski, Jamey. Review of “Wet Paint” competition,
1990
Kaufman, Laura. Vandal or Artist?, Los Angeles Times
Pincus, Robert. Social Questions in a Medium of Questions, San Diego Union
Olman, Lea. Social Questions in a Medium of Questions, Los Angeles Times
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AS AUTHOR
2018
“Ask an Artist”, A Blade Of Grass Magazine
2017
“A Community Planning Process – Even A good One – Is Not Enough” with Jessica Wolin, Shelterforce
2016
“Choosing Power through June Jordan.” Open Engagement press
Clouds In A Teacup, Parallax Press with Thich Nhat Hanh
2014
“Isn’t all art ‘Social Practice?’” Open Engagement press
2013
“Life is Living: The Arts and Education of a Creative Ecosystem” with Marc Bamuthi Joseph Cultural Transformations: Youth and Pedagogies of Possibility Edited by Korina M. Jocson, Harvard Education Press
“Collaboration and Spirituality”, Why Not Reciprocity? Edited by Tom Finkelpearl
2011
“Pedagogy, Collaboration, and Transformation,” with Korina Jocson. Art and Social Justice Education: Culture as Commons. Routledge.
2009 Who Am I in This Picture: Amherst Collage Portraits with Wendy Ewald, Amherst College Press
“Enlightenment Through Collaboration.” Community Arts Perspectives Volume II Issue 3. Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
2008
“Reflection and Action.” Document: a publication from the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, Spring/Summer edition.
2007
“Revolution.” Total Chaos: The Art & Aesthetics of Hip-Hop edited by Jeff Chang
“Identity of Interbeing.” The Mindfulness Bell Magazine, summer issue #45
2004
“Collaborating Voice: The Harlem Development/Gentrification Project” Mantis Poetry Journal Poetry and Politics issue Stanford University Press, September
2003
“Hip Hop and Cultural Memory.” Souls Journal, Columbia University
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2017
San Francisco State University Department of Health and Education, Health Equity Institute, Director of Social Practice and Pedagogy
2016-15
California College of the Arts, Professor Social Practice/Community Arts
Visiting Professor Diversity Studies
2015
San Francisco State University Department of Health and Education with HOPE/SF, Visiting Professor/Consultant/Community Workshop Educator
2012-13
Alameda County Office of Education Arts Curriculum Consultant and Teacher Coach
2011
San Francisco Art Institute, Visiting Professor
2008
Duke University Center for Documentary Studies, UNC Chapel Hill Department of American Studies Lehman – Brady Visiting Joint Chair Professor
2007
Amherst College, Professor Community Arts/Visiting Scholar
2006-07
San Francisco Art Institute, Distinguished Diebenkorn Fellow, Graduate Professor
1996-99
Satellite Academy NYC, Director of Art Benefits All Coalition (ABACA), Classroom Teacher and School Wide Arts Curriculum
1996
Cooper Union, Summer Program Teacher
1994-96
Sponsors For Educational Opportunity, Classroom Teacher and Summer Program Director,
1993-94
Berkeley High School, Classroom Teacher, Varsity Lacrosse Coach
1992
San Francisco Conservation Corps
Brewer Jr. High School
1991
Southern Exposure Teaching Program
East Bay Conservation Corps/Project Yes
1990-89
Bayview Child Development Center Classroom Co-Teacher
1989
Kieler Middle School Classroom Aide
1988
Jefferson Child Development Center Classroom Aide
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
2024
Advisory Committee Member, Othering and Belonging Institute Conference, Oakland CA
2023
Panelist, Just City Cultural Fund/Belonging in Oakland CA
Consultant, Headlands Center for the Arts/Rainin Convening, Marin Headlands CA
2020
Panelist, Just City Cultural Fund/Belonging in Oakland, CA
2018
Panelist, HASS Artist in Residence
Panelist, San Francisco Art Institute, Department of Painting
2017
Panelist, Hemera/A Blade Of Grass Contemplative Practice Fellowship
2016
Trustee, A Blade Of Grass, New York, NY
Panelist, CCA’s IMPACT Social Entrepreneurship Awards Program, CA
2014-16
Berkeley Unified School District Parent Advisory Committee, Berkeley CA
2015
Panelist, Chamberlain Award and Social Practice Residency, Headlands Center for the Arts, Marin CA
2010-15
Malcolm X Elementary Once A Week Co-Teacher, Berkeley, CA
2010-12
Malcolm X Elementary School Governance Council (2012 Co Chair)
2010-13
Berkeley Unified School District BSEP Committee Member
2008-10
Step One Nursery School Co-Teacher, Berkeley CA
1992-94
Curator, Southern Exposure Gallery, San Francisco CA
Trustee San Francisco Art Institute, Artists Committee, San Francisco CA