The Black Alumni Chapter at UNC Charlotte has honored Department of Art & Art History alumnus Jamil Steele \u201905 with the Excellence in Leadership Award in the category of Arts & Culture. The award was presented on February 1 at a celebratory dinner and ceremony marking the first day of Black History Month. Ten UNC Charlotte alumni received awards in a range of categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Steele is a successful public artist, with multiple murals on view in the Charlotte area. His work includes the \u201cCharlotte, Past, Present, and Future Mural\u201d in the Historic West End and a \u201cBlack Lives Matter\u201d mural on a wood panel, which was added to the Mint Museum\u2019s permanent collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other projects include a mural on the I-77 Trade St. underpass in West Charlotte that chronicles the history of the corridor and highlights the culture of the surrounding area and the glass panels for two bus terminals on West Blvd. and Remount Rd., which honor four local African America heroes: Judy Williams, Charles Parker, Charlie Sifford, and the artist and UNC Charlotte alumnus TJ Reddy. He has also designed 11 commemorative markers along the West Blvd. corridor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen I graduated from UNC Charlotte in 2005 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, I left not just with a degree but with a foundation that has supported my journey ever since,\u201d Steele said in his acceptance speech. \u201cMy time at UNC Charlotte ignited a passion for using art as a tool for storytelling and advocacy\u2014a way to shine a light on the narratives of marginalized communities and celebrate the resilience and vitality of people who have historically been overlooked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A National Board certified teacher, Steele has been an arts educator in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for 18 years \u2013 the last dozen at Shamrock Gardens Elementary School. He is a Charlotte native and a graduate of West Charlotte High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a muralist, portrait artist, and educator, I see every brushstroke as an opportunity to foster understanding, build bridges, and inspire change,\u201d he said at the awards ceremony. \u201cWhether it’s painting murals that reflect Charlotte’s rich African American history, collaborating with communities to tell their stories, or mentoring the next generation of creative minds, my mission has always been to use art as a force for connection and transformation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n