About The Artist
LaKendra Huckaby is a Southern-born visual artist, designer, and creative visionary who believes in the transformative power of art to heal, uplift, and unite. Based in Columbus, Georgia, she’s dedicated her life and work to making art accessible to all—especially those who may have never felt like it belonged to them.
Her creative journey has taken her from painting canvases in her hometown to designing billboards across Georgia, collaborating with celebrity designers, and creating artwork that’s graced red carpets and international publications. In recent years, her work has gained global attention, featured in African media, Afropunk, and major platforms like Instagram and Tumblr. She’s also been interviewed by local news outlets and recognized by her community for her commitment to art and impact.
In 2023, LaKendra created a tribute painting honoring blues legend Ma Rainey during the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award celebrations in her hometown. The piece was unveiled at a ceremony held at Ma Rainey’s home and later became a permanent fixture there. Now a protected national landmark, Ma Rainey’s home proudly displays LaKendra’s artwork as part of its cultural legacy.
That same year, she began a creative partnership with Caroline Wanga, CEO of Essence Ventures, after winning a national art contest for Wanga Woman. The relationship evolved into an Artist-in-Residence role, leading to several groundbreaking moments: a limited-edition product collection, a red carpet dress featuring her custom silk fabric, and the cover design for Wanga’s debut book I’m Highly Percent Sure, now sold in bookstores across the globe.
In 2025, LaKendra was invited to speak on a panel for her hometown’s MLK celebration alongside hip-hop icon MC Lyte, Grammy-affiliated leaders, and local change-makers. The conversation explored the powerful role of music, art, and creativity in shaping an evolving world—a reflection of the influence she continues to build through her work.
But LaKendra’s proudest work is what she does at home. Each year, she hosts free, community-centered art events in Columbus, making space for creativity without barriers. She teaches art to children through group and one-on-one classes, fueled by her dream
of building neighborhood art centers that offer unity and healing through creative expression—free and open to all.
With every brushstroke, billboard, and classroom moment, LaKendra paints a world where art belongs to everyone—and where beauty can be found in every story.
