Celebrating Black creativity + excellence in healthcare

Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions, resilience, and creativity of Black individuals across all fields—including healthcare and wellness. This year, we're shining a light on Black artists whose work explores themes of mental health, chronic illness, healing, and community care. Whether through visual art, poetry, music, dance, or film, these creatives challenge perspectives, spark important conversations, and inspire collective well-being.

In this roundup, our team highlights the Black artists who have moved, healed, and influenced us. From photographers capturing mental health struggles to musicians using their platform to advocate for wellness, these creators remind us of the power of storytelling and self-expression in health. Let’s celebrate their work and the impact they continue to make.

This year, we're shining a light on Black artists whose work explores themes of mental health, chronic illness, healing, and community care. Whether through visual art, poetry, music, dance, or film, these creatives challenge perspectives, spark important conversations, and inspire collective well-being.

Chintan

Dr. Adeola Olubamiji is making waves in 3D printing, using it to create life-changing solutions in healthcare and aerospace. Her work in additive manufacturing has led to innovations in custom, personalized bone and joint implants. These implants improve the precision of each device, making them more effective and reducing the risk of complications. She combines her love for science with an artistic vision for teaching, showing that STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—is not just about formulas but creativity and problem-solving. Through her pioneering work, Dr. Olubamiji is leading the way for future Black innovators in STEM fields, proving how technology can transform lives. She’s a true trailblazer who deserves recognition this Black History Month!

Amy

Cape Town-based photographer Tsoku Maela is determined to shine a light on mental health in Black communities, which he says is often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or completely ignored. His recent photographic series, Abstract Peaces, is a visual diary of a subject at different stages of their depression and anxiety. Using complex imagery, the artist encourages viewers to discuss their own mental health challenges, seek support, and ultimately understand they are not alone.  

Becky 

Doechii, who won the Grammy for Best Rap Album this year, taps into mental health, self-awareness, and healing in her song, “Denial is a River”. The song captures a struggle we all probably know too well - avoiding tough emotions versus the truth that facing them is the only way to heal. Her vulnerability and unique flow make the song a hit! 

Beth

It’s not about fame, and it’s definitely not just about February. With respect to those who have come before us, I love artists who have their feet on the ground—who create not for recognition but because they are driven to bring beauty into their communities. These are the photographers, musicians, writers, and makers whose art enriches the spaces they live in, whose creativity sparks conversations, and whose presence makes the world more interesting every single day of the year. They may not always have the biggest platforms, but their impact is undeniable. Here’s a link to some of my favorite Black creators who are doing just that.

Berisa

Let’s shine a light on Simone Biles this Black History Month.  When we think of her, we often focus on her incredible achievements—those Olympic gold medals and her status as one of the greatest athletes of all time. But there’s so much more to her story, especially when it comes to mental health. When she stepped away from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, she faced harsh criticism, and so many people tried to tear her down. But instead of letting that bring her down, Simone turned it into an opportunity to shine a light on the importance of mental well-being—especially for athletes. She became vulnerable at a time when vulnerability is often seen as a weakness, showing the world that it’s okay to put your mental health first. Her courage inspired so many people to embrace their own struggles, break the silence around mental health, and seek help. Simone teaches us that while we often focus on our physical health, our mental and emotional health deserves just as much care and attention.

Cari

It's not an exaggeration to say Questlove got me through the pandemic. He was my mental health savior. Every night, he would DJ from his attic for a couple of hours. His soothing voice, his soft heart, and his unreal knowledge of music history was my medicine. I'll never forget one session that was all Janet Jackson in honor of her birthday and she jumped in the chat while we were all watching. It felt like he brought us all together in a really dark time, and he's still bridging that divide. He is a continuous voice for Black excellence. His Summer of Soul documentary is pure gold and his documentary on Sly Stone continues to shine a bright light on the creative genius of the community. I think he's a national treasure.

Emily

I was fortunate to experience Adam Pendleton's "Who Is Queen?" installation at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 2021, and its impact still reverberates within me. This installation within the Marron Family Atrium towered three stories tall and was a spatial collage, combining text, image, and sound design.

Pendleton's installation challenged complex ideas about identity, history, and social justice while creating a shared space that fostered a sense of community and collective experience. It catalyzed long-overdue discussions and addressed intergenerational trauma, promoting healing and inviting viewers to process their experiences.

Complex, creative, challenging, and comfortable. I only wish I could have spent more time experiencing it as it evolved throughout its tenure.

Jeff

Chuck D, a member of Public Enemy, is “bringing the noise” when it comes to healthcare price transparency. He and several other rap and hip-hop icons are working with Power to the Patients to “fight the power” in this space. They have released several PSAs to help push legislation to arm patients with the knowledge of how much their health care will cost before they receive it.  

Laura

Tatyana Fazlalizadeh is an incredible visual artist. Her art addresses themes of emotional well-being, community care, and the impact of environment on mental health in the most powerful, haunting, and beautiful ways. She creates portraits and murals that will take your breath away. She amplifies narratives about resilience, identity, and healing. She often challenges societal norms and uses her talent to show underrepresented people so they feel validated and heard. 

I also love her Stop Telling Women to Smile project. She sheds light on the psychological impact of street harassment through a public art project. She also wrote a book, “Stop Telling Women to Smile: Stories of Street Harassment and How We’re Taking Back Our Power,” in which she talks about her experience and the women she interviewed for this project.

I first came across her work in New York, and I’ve kept up with her work on social media. A couple of years after I encountered her street art, she had an exhibition, “Oklahoma is Black,” near my hometown at the Oklahoma Contemporary Art Center. Check out her most recent installation, “Speaking to Falling Seeds,” at the California African American Museum, and you can watch her paint on her TiKTok (@tlynnfaz_) or her Instagram (@tlynnfaz)

Muse

Mickalene Thomas is an artist who has deeply inspired me. Her work is bold, unapologetic, and vibrant—celebrating Black femininity, self-expression, and identity in a way that feels both personal and universal. What I love most about her art is how it challenges traditional beauty standards while radiating confidence, strength, and self-love.

Her mixed-media paintings and collages are layered with texture and meaning, often portraying Black women in intimate, powerful, and glamorous settings. Seeing her work has made me think more about how art can be a form of healing—how representation itself is a form of care. It’s a reminder that feeling seen and valued is essential to well-being.

Kendalyn

Caleb Gordon is one of my favorite artists of all time. He is a gospel rap artist, and in many of his songs, he promotes caring for your mental and physical health. In his song “Finally,” he encourages listeners to work out and eat healthily. Messages like this resonate with me as I value my spiritual relationship with God. Still, sometimes I forget that health is wealth, too!