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Society & Culture

#28 – How Do You Bring Art to the People? | Ky Vassor

podcast May 6, 2025

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You’ve probably admired one of Ky Vassor’s murals without even knowing it—now she’s back to pull back the curtain on how those vibrant public artworks, pop-up workshops, and neighborhood installations all began with a passion for community and a sprinkle of hustle.

In this episode, Baltimore’s interdisciplinary artist and Galerie Myrtis Assistant Director walks us through the unlikely lessons she learned bartending, volunteering, and designing street-team campaigns before deciding to earn an MFA in Community Arts—and how every step shaped her mission to make creativity part of daily life.

  • From bartending and street‐team hustle to graduate studies: the unconventional path that led her to an MFA in Community Arts
  • Community‐first curation: activating public murals, mixed-media installations, and pop-up workshops in everyday spaces
  • Mentorship in action: building support networks for emerging artists through hands-on teaching and one-on-one studio visits
  • Wearing multiple hats: balancing roles as artist, educator, and museum administrator for sustainable impact
  • Honoring untold stories: creating works that uplift underrepresented voices and spark neighborhood pride
  • What’s next: upcoming public art commissions and expanded educational programs designed to broaden Baltimore’s creative ecosystem

Catch Ky Vassor’s first appearance on the podcast here: 

Whether you’re an artist, educator, or simply curious about the power of public art, this chat will leave you inspired to look at your own neighborhood in a whole new light. 

📸 Photo: Phillip Muriel

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

  • Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
  • Edited by Daniel Alexis
  • Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

  • Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
  • Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

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