Meet Damario Walker-brown

We recently connected with Damario Walker-brown and have shared our conversation below.

DaMario, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

My journey began in high school when I joined the Beta Club and volunteered at a local hospital, assisting patients receiving mental health care. This early experience ignited a passion for community service that continued through college, where I participated in various philanthropic activities, from street cleaning to after-school mentoring at a local community center. However, my true focus on my calling emerged when I unexpectedly lost my campus job. The struggle to pay rent and witnessing the hardships faced by precariously housed individuals around me made me realize how quickly circumstances can change. It became clear that architecture could be more than just creating aesthetically pleasing buildings—it could be a tool for creating a better world. This realization deepened my understanding of architecture’s potential for social impact and fueled my determination to use my skills to address these critical issues. This led me to shift toward a desire to serve underserved communities.

My passion for architecture, art and storytelling is deeply connected to representation, community, and social justice. Growing up, I became acutely aware that the architectural spaces around me often didn’t resonate with my identity or the vibrant communities I belonged to. This realization sparked a desire to create spaces that reflect the identities, aspirations, and dreams of marginalized communities. A pivotal moment came during a graduate studio focused on a community in Mexico City. This experience allowed me to explore collage and representation, merging architecture, storytelling, and art in a way that felt authentic to me. It was here that I realized the power of architecture as a medium for storytelling, capable of conveying the rich narratives of communities. To me, architecture is about more than just creating functional spaces; it’s about designing environments that resist oppressive structures and serve as platforms for restorative justice, transformation and community empowerment. I envision a world where architecture, art and storytelling empower communities of color and grassroots organizations.

Ultimately, I believe my purpose is to be a beacon for the next generation, ensuring that future architects, artists and designers see someone who looks like them and can forge their path to success.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

From a young age, I was always creating—drawing and visualizing my ideas. This early passion naturally led me to pursue architecture, where I could blend creativity with functional design. Growing up in Lexington, KY, I spent countless hours sketching, which eventually introduced me to the world of architecture.

Today, I’m focused on becoming a licensed/registered Architect, a goal I’ve worked toward for years. I’m currently less than 100 documented hours and two exams away from achieving this milestone. This rigorous process has deepened my commitment to the profession, as I’ve gained extensive experience across various aspects of architecture.

Beyond architecture, I’m passionate about art, particularly collage and hyperrealism. My exploration of these mediums allows me to tell stories that resonate with my experiences and the communities I’m a part of. Art, for me, is not just a creative outlet but a therapeutic practice that helps me process and express my emotions.

Looking ahead, once I’ve completed my architectural licensing process, I’m excited to return to my artistic roots. I plan to create more collages, develop my skills in hyperrealist charcoal drawing, and publish my first chapbook of poems, complete with my own illustrations.

What excites me most about my work is the ability to connect with others through both architecture and art. Whether I’m designing a building, facilitating a community engagement workshop or creating a piece of art, I strive to listen and tell stories that are intimate yet open to interpretation, allowing others to find their own meaning in my work.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, three key qualities have been most impactful in my journey: self-reflection, a strong support system, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

First, self-reflection has been crucial to my growth as both an artist and an aspiring architect. Initially, my creative drive was fueled by a need for external validation. However, as I evolved, I learned to channel that energy inward. By focusing on self-reflection and introspection, I began to create art for myself, rather than seeking the approval of others. This shift not only improved the quality of my work but also strengthened my confidence and self-esteem.

Second, the importance of a support system cannot be overstated. Throughout my journey, I’ve been fortunate to have people who encouraged and believed in me. Whether it was someone gifting me drawing supplies or simply supporting my creative endeavors, these relationships provided the emotional and mental backing I needed to persevere through challenges. My high school art teacher, Mr. Kingsley, left a lasting impression on me, and I’ll never forget how my church framed a drawing I did of our Yamaha piano and displayed it for years. Those gestures, though seemingly small, were incredibly inspiring and affirming.

Lastly, lifelong learning has guided my growth and continues to be a cornerstone of my development. In architecture school, we were introduced to Vitruvius’s idea from The Ten Books of Architecture that architects must be knowledgeable in many areas beyond just buildings—from music to medicine and everything in between. This broad understanding not only enriches architecture but also enhances art. I firmly believe that architecture itself can be considered an art form, especially when it transcends mere functionality to become something more meaningful.

Although I’ve spoken a lot about architecture, I must acknowledge that without it—and without my experiences in architecture school—I might not have discovered my personal style and approach to art and creation. In many ways, I am living out the principles Vitruvius emphasized, blending diverse knowledge into my creative practice.

For those early in their journey, my advice would be:

Cultivate Self-Reflection: Take the time to understand your motivations and how they influence your work. This will help you create with authenticity and purpose.

Build a Strong Support System: Surround yourself with people who believe in you and your vision. Their support will be invaluable during both the highs and lows.

Embrace Lifelong Learning: Stay curious and open to learning from various disciplines. This will not only inspire your work but also broaden your perspective and skill set.

Find people who inspire you: This was crucial for me. I began to draw inspiration from a diverse group of artists, designers, and creatives who shaped my perspective and approach to art and architecture. Romare Bearden’s rich collages, Daniel Libeskind’s evocative Chamberworks drawings, Tatiana Bilbao’s innovative collages, and the profound works of Kara Walker and Torkwase Dyson deeply influenced my understanding of storytelling through art. I also found inspiration in the words of poets, whose ability to convey deep emotions and narratives pushed me to explore new dimensions in my own work.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

In all honesty, I struggled with this question for a while because I wasn’t sure how to answer it truthfully. I grew up in a single-parent household, but my mother and family did such an amazing job raising me and my brother that words can’t fully express my gratitude. I want to start by acknowledging those closest to me who helped me along the way. My deepest thanks go to my mother, my brother, Aunt Rita, Aunt Dora, Uncle Jeff, Uncle Rich, Uncle Charlie, Uncle Lamar, Uncle Landen, Nana and Papa, my cousins, close friends, church family, and so many others who have been a constant support system, helping me grow into who I am and encouraging me to challenge myself.

I also want to honor Dr. Lloren Foster, a fraternity brother and mentor who profoundly shaped my thinking during my undergraduate years. Although I was never able to express my gratitude to him before he passed, his influence remains a cornerstone in my personal and professional development.

My mother set high expectations for me from an early age, placing me in advanced and AP classes as soon as possible. This foundation pushed me to strive for excellence and set the stage for my academic and professional journey.

One significant challenge that kept the fire burning within me, even when I felt burnt out, was growing up without a father figure and grappling with the fact that building a relationship with me wasn’t a priority for him. This experience shaped my perspective on life, teaching me resilience, independence, and the importance of learning from my decisions, managing my emotions, and finding ways to express them.

I’ve struggled with self-doubt (something I still work on), navigating emotions, and finding resources. For a long time, I yearned for guidance that I felt I missed out on by not having a father figure. Through therapy and self-reflection, I began to understand myself better—how I show up in spaces, how to express myself, and how to shift the focus away from myself in a meaningful way.

Though it wasn’t an ideal circumstance, my father’s absence ultimately helped me navigate my feelings, which I’ve channeled into poetry and art. It’s given me a unique lens through which I create and express myself, something I may not have discovered otherwise. While it wasn’t easy, I can now appreciate these challenges because they have made me who I am today.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dxwb/
• Other: I am in the process of building out a website for my art and can share once it is complete.