Damon Locks is a Chicago-based visual artist, educator, vocalist, and musician whose work intersects art, activism, and music. A graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago, Locks has become a significant figure in the creative community, working with the Prisons and Neighborhood Arts Project at Stateville Correctional Center and receiving multiple accolades, including the 2025 Creative Capital Award and the 3Arts Award in 2019. He is best known as the leader of the Black Monument Ensemble and as a member of New Future City Radio and Exploding Star Orchestra.
 

For this performance, Locks is joined by The Gratefuls, an improvisational quartet consisting of tuba, alto sax, vocal, and cello. Together, they will explore the depths of musical improvisation through their shared commitment to jazz, experimental pop, and contemporary art music. Drawing from their collective focus on philosophy, relationships, social interaction, and visual elements, Damon Locks and The Gratefuls will create a performance that meditates on humanity and the potential for artistic expression to foster social change. Through deep listening and engagement, the ensemble seeks to build a connection with the audience that transcends language and individual boundaries, using music as a vehicle for uplifting both the artists and their community.