Graffiti is a form of Therapy with Artist Dr. Rob “ProBlak' Gibbs

Join Coach LA for a conversation with
Boston’s 100 Most Influential People in 2022, Best of Boston, Artist and Best of Boston, Muralist, Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs is a visual artist, organizer, and community builder who has transformed the cultural landscape of Boston through his powerful art and commitment to youth education.

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Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs is a visual artist, organizer, and community builder from Roxbury, MA. He transforms Boston’s cultural landscape, focusing on beautifying Black and Brown communities. 

As co-founder of Artists for Humanity, he devoted over 30 years to teaching creative skills to youth and partnering with institutions to offer real-time opportunities for emerging artists. Gibbs has been recognized as one of Boston’s most influential people and has received numerous awards, including the Boston Celtics’ Hero Among Us Award and the MLK Drum Major Award. He was the first local and Black artist to paint the coveted Dewey Square Mural on the Rose Kennedy Greenway and has been an artist-in-residence with Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts and MassArt. Gibbs’ continuing practice is expansive and prolific. He envisions graffiti and hip-hop as ways to educate young people and create images of beauty and resilience through murals and contemporary fine art.

Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs

Artist Truth/Statement

My artistic style is a form of storytelling, a tool for me to chronicle and immortalize the culture and history of the parents who raised me and the neighborhoods that I grew out of. My journey began as a graffiti artist, using the city as my canvas to express myself and connect with others. Over time, I evolved into a muralist, painter, and visual narrator, using my art to create spaces that reflect the beauty, diversity, and resilience of the communities that surround me.

My art is rooted in hip hop culture and I strive to capture its essence through my visual language. For me, hip hop is about more than just music – it’s a way of life that celebrates the power of shared experience, resilience, and self-expression. 

At the heart of my work is a commitment to creating art that feels like home – familiar, natural, and connected. Through my paintings, graffiti writing, and murals, I seek to tell stories of who we are, who we were, and where we are going. 

When anyone encounters my work, I want them to be able to take a second…and stop.  I want them to feel inspired and seen. If someone takes a moment to look up, smile and think, then I have done my part to create a more connected world.  This extends to how I mentor and collaborate with fellow artists.  Using the shared space of creating to provide opportunities for growth and development, helping to cultivate the next generation of creative voices.

Ultimately, my goal as an artist is to inspire and encourage the cycle of creativity, to leave a legacy that my child can be proud to inherit. I am ProBlak – a man, a son, a father, a brother, a friend, and an artist, clear on who I am and committed to using my talents to make a positive impact on the world.