Professional artist Anthoney Reed II, known as “Mojo”, spoke at an assembly at the Upper School campus on March 12 in honor of Women’s History Month and gifted a custom piece to be displayed on campus. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Mojo, celebrated for his vibrant and empowering artwork, shared insights into his artistic journey and influences that have shaped his career.

He described art as a getaway from everyday life, a passion that persisted despite trying various conventional jobs. Ultimately, his dedication to art prevailed, leading him to pursue it wholeheartedly.

“I was a kid that always drew on the back of my homework, that’s when I knew I really liked it,” Mojo said.

At first, Mojo sketches out the ideas and refines them before deciding on the final piece. He finds inspiration for his work in human connections and conversations rather than other artists, emphasizing the importance of originality.

Mojo’s artistic development includes an artist residency in France in 2022, facilitated by his alma mater, the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) where he attended from 2012 to 2015. This experience allowed him to immerse himself in a new culture and further refine his craft.

To Mojo, art is a universal language and contains the power to tell stories. He encouraged students to explore their lives through creativity, highlighting the importance of pursuing one’s passions and hobbies as potential career paths.

“Your hobby many times is the thing you’re meant to do,” Mojo said.

As he was working on the piece in the new academic building, he answered questions from students across engineering and art classes. The inspiration behind the painting he is creating for our school comes from the significant roles women have played in his life and career.

“I thought it was very informative and a good experience to learn how to make a hobby something real and bigger than yourself,” sophomore and Foundations of Art and Design Accelerated student Pavlina Escobedo said.

Mojo painted a black woman to honor the strength and influence of the woman in his life. Mojo shared that his mother, a breast cancer survivor, and his sister have been pivotal figures throughout his artistic journey, and he aims to honor that in his work.

In 2023, Mojo earned an exclusive spot at Wynwood Walls, a street art destination. Unlike other exhibitions, Wynwood Walls does not have an application process; instead entrance is based upon merit, reputation and art skills.

Don Lawrence, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, noted the importance of such events, sharing that bringing individuals like Mojo to speak to students provides students with relatable stories so they can overcome adversity.

“We want to use the power of storytelling to teach our students that we share a lot in common, but we can also learn from people who are different from us,” Lawrence said.

Mojo urges students to transform their experiences into something meaningful.

“Turn a moment in your life into a movement,” Mojo said.