Introducing Muta'aliah: The Artist Whose Love for Art Has Sparked the Truth About Healing

PHOTO ACCREDITED BY /CW DESRIANA GILBERT

For thousands of people throughout the world, playground lots filled with images created by chalk, popsicle sticks, and glue bottles are their first depictions of the embodiment of art. Many do not explore beyond the surface level of this school subject; it’s often given only a skewed capacity, such as coloring books and double-sided crayola markers. The complexities and multifacetedness of this sacred skill have always been visually noticed but rarely discussed as a community throughout society for centuries. However, I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the most talented visual artists who just so happens to be located right here in the heart of Milwaukee. I went into the conversation as one who loves art and uses it as a vessel of optimism and escape but I left the conversation educated and intrigued to learn more after hearing their responses. /CW fam, I introduce you to one of our newest family members, Mutaaaliah.

I fell in love with art in the fourth grade. Just like any kid, I was constantly exposed to it, at school and throughout the city. Nobody sat me down and taught me how to become one with it. Our connection happened naturally. When something is for you, you just know!
— Muta'aliah

MUTA’ALIAH SURROUNDED BY THEIR PHYSICAL ART PORTFOLIO

Muta’aliah has been one of Milwaukee’s most engaging and eye-catching visual artists since 2021. You may recognize the name from being in creative art shows such as Some Fools, Bronzeville Artwalk, Mitchell Street Arts, and La Gente Art Gallery. Their journey has been far from traditional; after dropping out of UW-Milwaukee in 2020, while the pandemic had us all on lockdown, Muta’s passion for art did not die; rather, it intensified. From beginning, a self-taught journey of tracing, they quickly realized the help of other talented individuals would be one of the secret sauces to becoming successful and educated. Collaborating, studying, and watching muralists, painters, and several other types of artists from Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) became their everyday routine and instilled more hunger inside Muta’aliah to hone in on their craft as well as apply their own flavor and personality to it. As we sat down, Muta expressed to me that their creative process is to always look at what is transpiring in their own life; from adversaries, accomplishments, and lessons, pull the current emotions out of it and formulate pieces that will display the feeling of what Muta is or has gone through over their lifetime. 

I draw inspiration from what’s going on inside me as well as my surroundings. Milwaukee plays a large part in that. I get a ton of ideas just from the everyday people here that I meet. There’s a unique level of warmth and kindness the city has that is rarely spoken about.
— Muta'aliah

ART PIECE CREATED BY MUTA AT TRUESKOOL’S 2025 JUNETEENTH MURAL CONTEST (FIRST PLACE PIECE)

I was gifted with the presence of Muta’s vulnerable side from the very beginning of the interview. Harsh topics such as psychosis, family trauma, and depression were uncovered and discussed layer by layer. It’s often assumed that visual artists only display positive depictions of life and emotions onto their canvases, buildings and streets; but Muta’aliah gave me a few pages out of their book that was quite the opposite. For Muta, murals and paintings created by them is a coping mechanism and healing process for their own pathway of life. Healing is not linear, predictable, or set on a specific deadline that means your life will go back to being normal or at its most happiest for the rest of your life. Through creating and sharing a message not often discussed, Muta’aliah’s art is more than eccentric and vibrant. In 2023, the artist went through psychosis where they were constantly on edge and had auditory as well as visual hallucinations due to a traumatic event that occurred. Their art piece entitled, “I Kill Vampires” was the therapeutic representation of Muta overcoming psychosis and claiming power of one’s own life back.

ARTWORK CREATED BY MUTA

I want people to understand that healing is an ongoing process. There will be always be triggers even when you think you’ve overcome something. Being vulnerable looks different for everybody. Instead of trying to get over trauma so quickly; I want people to gather the lesson of accepting how trauma has impacted their lives and individuality as a whole, but go at their own pace.
— Muta'aliah

Throughout the interview, I learned one of Muta’s favorite words, VISION. This is what has kept persistency and perseverance at the forefront of their artistry. From moments of wanting to give up, art has never been easy to walk away from and not complete their vision. So what does Muta’s vision look like you ask? ( Yes, I hear you all asking that question through your screens.) It is to create pieces of word that has surrealism, expressionism and storytelling as its foundation that make people not only talk to one another with deep conversation but also think and be completely honest with not only others but most importantly themselves. As any artist would feel, Muta’aliah’s accolades such as winning first place TrueSkool’s 2025 Juneteenth Mural Contest and being apart of groundbreaking showcases makes them feel proud and inspired to keep going to the very top but that's not the reason why Muta continues to create. 

The visual artist’s ultimate goal is to execute their vision of being able to live life the way they would like. Making a sustainable income off of the value of their artistry and becoming a part of the movement for Milwaukee art is the wind that keeps Muta’aliah going. Most importantly, everyday people are learning to face their trauma and navigate life even after the darkness by witnessing Muta create in the moment or their finalized portfolio, which is the overarching message of Muta’s gallery.

Art is the sign of the times. We as artists have the responsibility to show what is going on in our time period. Whether it’s about my personal life or what we as society are facing, it is my job to create by that. Milwaukee art is underfunded and my goal is to become apart of a movenment that gets Milwaukee artsitry funded the way it deserves. There is immense talent here that is given little to no resources.
— Muta'aliah

ARTWORK CREATED BY VISUAL ARTIST MUTA

Muta’s foot is never coming up off the gas when it comes to not only the vision for themselves but for the innovation of the Milwaukee Art Scene as a whole. Go see Muta’aliah’s work in person at 100percentmke, located at 217 N Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202 in the heart of Third Ward. This is where Muta was given an artist residency to create, network and connect with the community to buy their artwork or pull up for a deep conversation. (One of Muta’s favorites!) Follow the eccentric and truthful talent @Mutaaaliah and stop by 100percentmke to see the magic in person, buy prints and original pieces from the artist and catch their vibe.

Desriana Gilbert | Entertainment & Social Journalist for /CW

























Get “Out of the Box” this Summer with Black Box Fund [Trailer video featuring REbirth by Cracking Art]

Your /CW Fam will be chilling with the “birds” all summer long!

Check out this teaser video to get a glimpse at how we will be helping to activate the arts with Black Box Fund’s Out of the Box series featuring REbirth by Cracking Art!

#Crackingart #historicthirdwardmilwaukee #outoftheboxmke

Get “Out of the Box” this Summer with Black Box Fund

Contact: Black Box Fund

Media Relations Represented by CopyWrite Magazine, Media, & Design

Tiffany Bean [Public Relations /CW] - copywrite.tiffany@gmail.com | 414.207.9832


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Get “Out of the Box” this Summer with Black Box Fund

Black Box Fund is hosting a six-week

Summer series Out of the Box, featuring Cracking ArtJune 20 to August 1, 2021



Black Box Fund has announced a series of events that is sure to inspire, entitled Out of the Box. Out of the Box is a six-week series of family-friendly performances, workshops and more taking place along Lake Michigan’s shore south of Discovery World at Lakeshore State Park. Over 75 local non-profits, entertainers, artists and businesses will enliven this summer with multifaceted experiences highlighting a range of national and international awareness events—from African American Music Appreciation to World Nature Conservation. These events will run from June 20 to August 1, 2021. [See full Out of the Box schedule at https://blackboxfund.org/].

“Black Box Fund’s team is passionate about artists of all kinds—musicians, dancers, visual artists, poets, whatever art form someone may be doing—and supporting the creative experiences that happen when artists meet their publics. Seeing them do their work in real life and real time is always extraordinary.” - Marilu Knode, Executive Director of Black Box Fund

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At the heart of the event is the commissioned sculptural installation REbirth by artistic movement Cracking Art. REbirth features 22 five-foot-tall, brightly colored swallows, made of “regenerable” plastic. Cracking Arts main desire is to create a sense of wonder that can bring pleasure while highlighting the overwhelming presence of plastic in our lives. “We primarily choose urban spaces rather than those dedicated specifically to art in order to trigger unexpected emotions, expel routine from everyday places, and allow for the reflection of a space with new eyes. Our hope is that this relationship can inspire creativity and a different point of view for observing the surrounding reality.” Cracking Art interview Oubliette magazine.

Black Box Fund has committed to bring the community together around art and highlight the broad diversity of creativity that this city has to offer. When asked about the event, Doug McDonald, Board President of Black Box Fund, said “We look at this as moving out of a mental box, not just a physical one, and expanding our connection with the creative community and with the community at large. Our mission is to create welcoming, family-friendly, open gatherings that really draw people from all aspects of the community.”

[Learn more at http://www.crackingart.com].

With live music, guided tours, food trucks and lots of outdoor space for safe communal engagement, there is plenty for the whole family to enjoy throughout the summer. Everyone is welcome. Black Box Fund believes that it is important to engage with all its community, sharing in the multifaceted ways in which we exist.

To learn more about Out of the Box, visit our website, blackboxfund.org. You will find more about the events, activities and performances planned for the summer. You can also find us on Facebook at Black Box Fund and follow us on Instagram @blackboxfundmke. We’ll be sharing more information and posting updates on these pages throughout the event.

The State DNR currently allows a maximum 350 people per event; visitors to Lakeshore State Park can enjoy Cracking Art and Out of the Box performances while maintaining a safe distance, wearing a mask, and otherwise following the State’s guidelines for COVID safety which can be found at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/community.htm

About: Black Box Fund was founded in 2019 with the belief that art can be a positive unifying force to connect community, our mission is to support public art, music and performance that inspires, educates and enhances the well-being of our Milwaukee communities.

To schedule press interviews or any media event coverage, contact:

Media Relations Represented by CopyWrite Magazine, Media, & Design

Tiffany Bean [Public Relations /CW] - copywrite.tiffany@gmail.com | 414.207.9832

Follow us on Instagram @blackboxfundmke