From In Her Father's Shoes to Ruby: Tia Etu's art connects generations and tells the living story of Black History

Last year, guests at our gala eagerly placed raffle tickets in hopes of taking home In Her Father’s Shoes, a powerful art piece donated by Chicago artist Tia Etu. When asked if she would consider contributing again, Tia decided to create an original piece for this year titled Ruby, inspired by our Academic Enrichment Program. The work layers the silhouette of Ruby Bridges, the six-year-old African American girl who desegregated a New Orleans elementary school in 1960, with the image of a modern girl standing tall, cell phone in hand. It is a reminder that this history is not distant. It is a living memory. Ruby will be raffled at this year’s gala, where Tia will join us in person to present the artwork to the winner.

We visited Tia in her studio, surrounded by canvases that tell hard and necessary truths. Her art confronts the history of racial terror in America, including lynchings and the spectators who once treated such violence as spectacle. Other pieces speak to present-day injustices, including immigration raids and the fear surrounding ICE enforcement, illustrating how state violence and surveillance continue to impact marginalized communities. Tia explained that at this time her work feels urgent, that she “has to say something.” Her murals and studio pieces alike challenge viewers to sit with history while recognizing its modern echoes.

Beyond her studio practice, Tia’s murals across Chicago and neighboring communities bring beauty and meaning to blank walls. Her mural Imagine in Oak Park reflects her belief in creative possibility and transformation, themes that align closely with our own call to imagine a more just world. Her journey as an artist reflects resilience and determination. Yet even with an expansive portfolio of public art, she spoke candidly about still fighting for larger commissions and equitable access to major projects.

We are honored to partner with an artist who not only documents the Black American story through her work, but continues to live it, build it, and imagine beyond it.