Brandan “BMIKE” Odums is a New Orleans-based visual artist who, through
exhibitions, public programs, and public art works, is engaged in a
transnational dialogue about the intersection of art and resistance.

From film to murals to installations, Odums’ work encapsulates the political
fervor of a generation of Black American activists who came of age amidst
the tenure of the nation’s first Black president, the resurgence of popular
interest in law enforcement violence, and the emergence of the self-care
movement.

Most often working with spray paint, Odums paints brightly-colored, wall-
sized murals that depict historical figures, contemporary creatives, and
everyday people. In his otherwise figurative work, Odums departs from
realism to play with color – blending lavender to paint the skin of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King and robin’s egg blue for Harriet
Tubman, for instance – suggesting an ethos of boldness that unites the
subjects of his work and surpasses race, time, or any other aspect of physical reality.

Who made this painting?

This painting was created by David Eldred. Originally from Battle Creek, Michigan, David is a Colorado-based illustrator who loves to create elaborate textures that endow characters and landscapes with vividness and tactility. He says he is always pleased to have the opportunity to create interesting, whimsical, playful imagery. Learn more about David’s work at davideldreddraws.com.

About this piece

Commissioned by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) and as part of their engagement in the June 2022 Aspen Ideas Festival, “Every Child’s Dream” illustrates the foundation’s vision that all children can reach their full potential, free of limitations created by racism and other systemic barriers. Created on the grounds during the five-day festival, as part of the foundation’s racial healing center, this piece invited conference attendees to contribute their ideas as depicted in this child’s dream – of what racial healing means to them. By leveraging the power of imagination and community in building a world in which children and families thrive – the foundation supports collective action towards a more equitable future. Learn more on WKKF’s multi-author storytelling website, everychildthrives.com.