Jamil Dyair Steele
Website: www.dyairart.com
Twitter:@jamilsteeleart
Instagram: @dyairart
Linkedin: Jamil Steele
Email: dyairart@gmail.com
ABOUT: Jamil Dyair Steele is a visual artist based in Charlotte, NC. A proud graduate of West Charlotte Senior High School class of 2001. He studied fine arts at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and completed his Masters of Art Education at Winthrop University. His illustrious artistic creations are deeply rooted in the human experience of minorities, marginalized communities, and youth. Using painting as his primary form of expression, Steele specializes in unique portraiture, murals, and illustrations. His inquisitive students also know him as Mr. Steele. As a National Board Certified teacher, he is passionate about using his artistic career to inform his teaching instruction. His artistic inspiration comes from his Dad, Ernie Barnes, Norman Rockwell, and Kehinde Wiley. His work has been featured at the Art House in NoDa, Festival in the Park, Spirit Square, The Art Institute of Charlotte, The Center for the Arts in Rock Hill, Romare Bearden Park’s Annual Arts Festival, UNC Charlotte’s Projective Eye Gallery, NoDa @28th Creative Arts Center, and the McColl Center.
Steele also worked as a lead artist with AboutFace Charlotte's Blessing Box Campaign in 2018. The finished painting depicting the kindness and compassion of children was donated to the Levine Children’s Hospital in honor of a former student living with advanced kidney disease. Steele’s work includes the “Charlotte, Past, Present, and Future Mural” in Charlotte’s Historic West End, a community street mural in Charlotte’s Country Club Heights neighborhood and three sidewalk murals along Montford Drive in South Charlotte, commissioned by the Charlotte Mecklenburg “Paint the Pavement” program. He also created a Black Lives Matter mural on a wood panel in the summer of 2020. The Mint Museum Uptown has recently added the piece to its permanent collection in the Carroll Gallery.
Steele’s future projects include a mural on the I-77 Trade St. underpass in West Charlotte. A project with significant meaning to Steele as he grew up and went to High School in the area. The mural will chronicle the history of the corridor and highlight the culture of the surrounding area. He was also selected to design the glass panels for two bus terminals on West Blvd and Remount Rd. Another meaningful project due to the opportunity to honor four local greats, Judy Williams (his second cousin), Charles Parker, Charlie Sifford (his Great Uncle) and artist TJ Reddy in the design.
Steele is also a part of a new program called Project Protégé. This program pairs established artists with aspiring artists to teach them how to successfully navigate a career in art through social practice.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Jamil Steele inspires communities through art and mentoring- The Charlotte Post
'Heritage of Biddleville' wins Charlotte placemaking bid -Qcitymetro
New exhibitions at The Mint Museum spotlight works by local artists and artists of color -Qcitymetro
Artists hope to share their vision of Charlotte’s Historic West End -WSOC-TV
A landmark building gets a new look -Qcitymetro
Everyday Hero: Charlotte Artist Paints With Purpose - Spectrum Local News
Strength and resilience;Art teacher spreads hope with Black Lives Matter mural - CMS
New Mentorship Program Aims To Boost Charlotte's Next Generation Of Artists- WFAE
The Great 28: Black Charlotteans who are shaping our city - QCity Metro
