Meet Shauntrice Black

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shauntrice Black a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shauntrice, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

Growing up, my mother was the hood social worker. She never graduated from high school, but she was always connecting people with resources. Lights cut off? She knew someone with a generator. Car wont start? She could recommend a good mechanic. Landlord threatening an illegal eviction? She would have a mini protest and pro bono lawyer ready to take action. Witnessing that made me realize that regardless of who is in the room, my job was to bring more of our people in. I’ve served on boards where I was the only Black person, the only person who had ever been on food stamps, the only single parent. I’ve learned that only way to confront that is to call it out & bring more people in. Sometimes that means physically bringing people and sometimes it means advocating for research/products/services created by traditionally excluded groups. More than anything, my mother’s example taught me that when they refuse to make sure more of us are in the room, sometimes you have to create your own space and make sure you’re not the only one.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My name is Shauntrice and I founded an arts equity company here in Louisville called OKIKE. By day I manage federal funds for a nonprofit. By night (and on weekends) I work diligently to support emerging artists. My company hosted Black Future Fest, Artists & Afros, and dozens of free artist development events across the state. The global art market is a $60 billion industry and Black artists only get about 2% of that—I am excited to change those numbers. In 2024 OKIKE helped Black artists earn more than half a million dollars collectively. Thanks to Sadiqa Reynolds, Renee King (FundBlackFounders), Metro United Way, and the Speed Art Museum, OKIKE has been making moves. The full launch of our new site: BlackArtistsGetPaid.com is happening during Black History Month 2025. This will be a community resource for creatives, curators, and collectors. You can follow OKIKE for the latest @BlackArtistsGetPaid.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Lifting as I climb: some of my biggest opportunities came were because of reciprocal relationships with other artists. Like Issa Rae said—we need to network horizontally. Building community with other artists has been my greatest asset.
2. Balancing single motherhood: I don’t recommend this as a go-to, but it made me way stronger than I ever thought possible. Let me tell you something—managing household finances while raising a child while keeping up with my physical/mental health while working a full time job AND running a company while creating art…baby if you can get through that, you can probably get through anything.
3. Trying everything, regretting (almost) nothing: I don’t know if I am the most neurologically typical person, but hopping from style to style helped me shape my identity as an artist. With each new adventure—sculpture, photography, painting, writing, etc—I gained a nee appreciation for my craft and understood more how to express myself.

My advice is price your work higher. I work with so many artists who undervalue their work. That’s part of why so many creatives end up quitting. Remember—the world is yours.

How would you describe your ideal client?

My favorite clients are the ones who are into symbols and hidden meanings. Give me the collector who is down for a good story. I love meeting someone who is curious and can speak to the vibe they’re going for rather than reciting a list of well known artists. I enjoy creating for clients who are willing to go on a journey with me even when neither one of us knows where we’ll end up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://BlackArtistsGetPaid.com
• Instagram: https://BlackArtistsGetPaid.com
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/BlackArtistsGetPaid
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/Shauntrice