Lou Dawson

Fashion – Washington, D.C.

Lou Dawson is a proud Washingtonian with a distinct creative vision for storytelling the experiences of African Americans in the DMV through clothing and visual arts. Her brand “Hue-man” was inspired by the current plight of af-americans, and is a play on the dated derogatory term, “colored people.” Identifying that humanity comes in all hues and shades; self-identifying with the term changes the narrative & inspires a sense of pride, and awareness of self. Pushing the envelope and having the difficult conversations peacefully through art is her way of inspiring hue-manity & influencing change. And what cannot be expressed through the art of her clothing line, can be seen in a plethora of canvasses & murals that detail art & life through her experiences. Where Hue-Manity rests, “Public Art,” rises. Unable to contain all of her ideas and inspired works on clothing alone, Lou expanded her collection to feature visual arts that tell a more in-depth story through imagery under the brand, “Public Art.” Her most recent work includes an installment at the Hillyer Contemporary Gallery, a collaborative mixed media showcase titled “Dreaming While Woke.” A collection of textile portraits and paintings combining visual arts & fashion with artist & friend, Jamilla Okubo. Installment “After the Dream, BELIEVE; Rise in Power,” featured at the Congress Heights Art & Culture Center.