The Black Editorial ™
The Black Editorial ™
Miriam Uhura’s Fierce Art of Self and City
May 2025
Miriam Uhura stands defiant beneath a bold, African-American flag that subverts familiar iconography with Afrocentric colors, a golden grill, and the powerful phrase, “Then God Said Let There Be Light.”
The Art of Miriam Uhura
“She is Miriam Uhura, a self-taught artist from Detroit whose creative lens is shaped by culture, family, and the beauty of individuality. For the past five years, she has been making her mark in the fine art world through vibrant, intentional painting. But Miriam’s artistry doesn’t stop at the canvas. As a body artist, she brings the same care and vision to her work as a professional piercer and laser tattoo removal specialist at Bloodline Dynasty. Her multidisciplinary approach speaks to a commitment to personal expression, transformation, and storytelling, whether through brushstroke or bodywork.”
Identity, Place & Power
Detroit is a city that has nurtured the roots of artistry, sparking movements that ripple across the nation. It’s a pulse, a driving force. How has it sharpened or softened the way you show up in the art world?
“The city has made me tough but with love, that's how both the sharpness and softness coexist. As an artist, I am always moved to go harder than I have ever imagined, especially coming from a city known for everyone having the celebrity personality (LOL). Everyone in the city works harder than the hardest person you know. In this art world, it’s a must that you do. Work hard, show up for yourself, know who you are, be limitless and stand ten toes down on everything you believe in. And in it all, be authentic.”
What’s one assumption people make about you as a woman in this industry that you’ve intentionally leaned into or completely subverted?
“A lot of people assume it's easier or that art is just a fun little thing and it's not a career for me. “Funny, right? It’s the saying that when you’re Black you have to work twice as hard — but when you’re a Black woman, you might as well multiply that hard work by 10.”
How do you think the noise, history, and soul of Detroit echo through your work, and what might have been lost if you grew up somewhere still?
“The vibrancy, scale and richness of how I immortalize evocative moments are the echoes in my work. If I were to grow up somewhere else, the passion would be eternalized differently.”
Someday We'll All Be Stars Acrylic 30x40
Anti-eurocentric Beauty Oil 36x48
Main Character Energy
If your work couldn’t be seen, only felt what would people experience in their body when they ‘witnessed’ your art?
“Reverence and love as tangible and intangible it could get. I appreciate everyone who takes the time to experience my work. Regardless of the subject matter I always want people to feel seen and understood. My work is always a thank-you and a love letter to the experience of culture and this thing called life.”
What’s one piece you've created that scared you to release; what conversation were you secretly hoping it would start?
“The piece is titled ‘A Collect Call from the Grief Hotline.’ It highlights my experience with the grief I’ve faced in losing my father. Vulnerability is a hard conversation and thing to share. The conversation I wanted to start with that piece is that grief is a back and forth conversation. That can be beautiful and a little bit uncomfortable.”
Is your art a mirror, a weapon, or a refuge, and does that change depending on who’s looking?
“This is a great question. I would say a little bit of refuge and mirror. I paint what I feel or have felt being the mirror. The way it shows up as a refuge is that if anyone has experienced or is experiencing the same emotions I have, they now have a safe space to exist with their emotions even if it's just for a second while viewing my art.”
Collect Call from the Grief Hotline Oil 36x48
Idealism
Which do you crave more understanding or disruption and why one over the other?
“Ah, I’d say disruption. Disruption brings change and makes room for more possibilities. Not in a negative sense though. Can you fully and truly understand everything about someone or something? Are things and people meant to be fully understood? I think the concept of understanding is a never ending cycle.”
If your younger self saw your current work, would she feel protected or provoked?
“Provoked. My inner child is still being provoked til this day.”
Past, Future & Present
One day, a girl from Detroit will stumble across your name in a gallery, a book, a headline. What do you hope she feels when she finds you?
“Limitless. Inspired. Seen. I want her to know that whatever she wants in life, it's already hers to have.”
When the paint fades and the noise quiets, what part of your truth do you hope still lingers in rooms you've never stepped into?
“Authenticity. My truth is me. I will always show up as myself and for myself, with the hope that I can inspire others to do the same.”
unmuted
Unmuted is a dynamic space where creativity speaks without boundaries. This section spotlights underrepresented artists, visionaries, and thought leaders through engaging articles, interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights. Here, stories unfold, voices amplify, and artistry takes center stage.