Threads: The Art Exchange

In this episode, Detroit-based abstract artist Noble Liverpool invites us into a practice where collage becomes more than composition, it becomes a language. For Liverpool, arranging and rearranging fragments is how they sort what won’t stay still, express what words cannot carry, and find sovereignty in a world that has often asked them to be quieter than they are. We explore the emotional life of repurposed materials, what we carry and what we choose to make beautiful, and what it means to create from a place that is finally, fully your own.Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

In the accompanying episode to the digital exhibition Griot Genesis, this intimate conversation offers a deeper look into Miriam Uhura’s evolving creative practice. Reflecting on her early itch to create and the moment art became not just something she did, but something she was becoming, Uhura speaks candidly about influence, autonomy, and the inner workings of her practice. Together, we explore the themes grounding the exhibition: family as living influence, vulnerability rendered through the intimate gaze, and Black legacy and freedom. From ritual, music as research, and to reclaiming archetypes through a modern griot lens, Uhura shares the stories she carries and the ones still unfolding. Experience the full digital exhibitionListen to the curated Spotify playlistDiscover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

In this soulful episode, artist Madhurima Ganguly invites us into a world where painting becomes more than practice but also a ritual. For Ganguly, art is both a private journal and a divine encounter as a space of healing, surrender, and profound self-discovery.  We explore how curiosity guides her, how identity shifts across continents, and how themes of body, ritual adornment, and beauty standards move through her work. Together, we question what it means to define art, how intimacy translates into public reception, and how her creative practice evolves alongside the chapters of life. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

On this special episode, we are joined by Paloma Núñez-Regueiro to discuss printmaking as both a political act and a personal archive. Born in Peru and raised in Mexico, Núñez-Regueiro reflects on a life shaped by migration, multiplicity, and belonging. Her work, grounded in a rigorous process of research, reading, and intimate interviews, positions printmaking not just as a medium, but as a mode of resistance, repetition, and collective remembrance. Weaving together political memory, diasporic identity, and visual storytelling, the Ann Arbor-based artist speaks on visibility, medium hierarchy, and how theory shapes image. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

In this special episode, we are joined by Brazilian-born, New York–based collage artist Edgard Barbosa, whose art practice navigates the intersections of memory, media, and identity. Barbosa reflects on the role of visual language as both a form of personal reckoning and collective dialogue, revealing how his fragmented compositions serve as a response and reflection of his immediate surroundings. Through a nuanced conversation, he shares insights into his methodology, the intuitive construction of imagery, and the urgency of capturing the present moment through layered and textured form.Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

On our season 2 finale we interview Detroit-based artist Mario Moore. Examining social, political, and historical issues, Mario Moore explores black identity and black history through his paintings, drawings, and sculptures. Moore sits down with us to discuss the importance of capturing history through his research process, his artistic influences, and what he wants viewers to take away from his work. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

Working in the realm of lens-adjacent, interdisciplinary approaches, Rachel Elise Thomas' interests lies in older photography and images by critiquing the past and challenging people to think about changing their attitudes towards consumerism and colorism. Thomas sits down with us to discuss being vulnerable within her art practice and viewers walking away learning from her work and even feeling uncomfortable in order for growth. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

Working in both traditional and digital art, artist Mark Sarmel’s practice centers around diverse people and cultures. Sarmel sits down with us to discuss providing a voice for the underrepresented and laying the foundation for his own universe for viewers to see themselves through his heroic characters and storylines. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

Julian Jamaal Jones is a multidisciplinary artist and educator from Indianapolis, Indiana who primarily works with textiles and works on paper. His abstract compositions reflect the black experience, black identity, music, and religion. Jones recently sat down with us to discuss how his upbringing influences his work and how he is redefining quilting through his abstract forms. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

On episode 8, we interview writer, educator, and fiber artist Fatema Haque who discusses the importance of documenting the Bangladeshi American community in Michigan through her hand embroidered portraits and the meditative healing practice of embroidery. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

On this episode we discuss art that addresses injustice and how it has impacted BIPOC communities, culture, and the world at large. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

On episode 6, we interview artist Marwa Hachem who discusses her experience as an entrepreneur, the role art has played in her motherhood journey, art’s healing nature and her passion for depicting and sustaining a feminine presence in the art world. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

On episode 5, we interview fiber artist Meli Bandera who discusses expanding their family’s legacy through fiber art by blending their Mexican culture with contemporary practices. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

You rarely hear about BIPOC artists contributions to the world of animation. On this episode, we discuss the history of animation, including BIPOC artists who helped create some of Disney’s and Pixar’s most beloved films. Additionally, we shed light on current initiatives that support aspiring animators. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

On episode 3, we sit down with artist Cydney Camp to discuss the power oil paint holds when depicting the black figure. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

Do you think art can be used as activism? On this episode, we discuss the impact of global warming and if the recent rise in defacing art has been effective. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

We open our second season with reflecting and honoring the lessons that have shed light on the reality of maintaining a platform that promotes unity, the essence of self, and the importance of introspection. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

On our season one finale, we interview fiber artist, designer, and educator Taylor Childs. Her fiber work (or pieces) explores familial themes and narrates her lived experience as an African American.Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

Throughout history, art has been a staple in capturing revolutions through many different mediums.  On episode 10, we discuss four artists: Shirin Neshat, Barbara Jones-Hogu, Emory Douglas, and F.N. Souza, all of whom have created work exploring race, politics, culture, gender, and class.Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

On this episode we interview abstract artist Dino Valdez Jr. (also known as Edethism).  We discuss artist identity and the benefit of building community through collaboration. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

We interview Stephanie Onwenu, a visual artist and  landscape designer based out of Detroit. This episode unravels the importance of dismissing perfectionism to be present with your creative vision and journey as an artist.Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

Choosing a career path as an artist can be challenging; in this episode we discuss the pros and cons of conventional education and being self taught. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

On this episode, we interview artist and educator Odette Duke, who approaches her artwork from a cultural and historical lens. Duke also drops gems on the importance of balance as a creative. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

On this episode we explain how and why our artist spotlight segment was birthed. We kick off this new opening with Edmonia Lewis, a 19th century sculptor of Black and Native American ancestry and her significant impact on art that is only now receiving attention.Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

What do you do when your creative flame is no longer lit?  In this episode we discuss creative burnout and share personal tips on how to prioritize self, maintain balance, and find a creative flow that works for you. Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

We dissect and reflect on our lived experiences as creatives and the importance of embracing when there is a party of one (self). Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

How do we define what art is? Who dictates that? What molds our definition of art- is it society, or our personal attitudes? In this episode, we start off with a simple question with a lot of different attitudes and answers.Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!

Introductions don’t have to be awkward. We are your co-hosts, Alea Brown and Sydney Frakes. As business owners, creatives, and two black women in the art world we realized there is a need for the voices and experiences of Black, Indigenous,  People of Color (BIPOC) to be shared. Hence, this is why Threads: The Art Exchange was birthed. Join us as we explore past and present BIPOC artists, examine our truths as creatives, delve into current events in the art world, and most importantly, build community.Discover more on our website and follow us on Instagram!