SaveArtSpace is proud to present The Things That Bind Us, a public art exhibition on billboard ad space in Los Angeles, CA, opening June 27, 2025, curated by Nakeyta Moore.

The Things That Bind Us selected artist is Doug Hickman Jr.

What are the forces that tether us—to each other, to history, to systems both visible and hidden? The Things That Bind Us explores the intricate threads that shape identity, relationships, and our movement through communal spaces. Binding can symbolize care, tradition, survival, and belonging—woven into language, religion, commerce, and culture. Yet, it can also confine, reinforcing power structures, systemic oppression, and generational cycles beyond our control.

In dense urban landscapes, where diverse communities intersect, The Things That Bind Us examines the complexity of belonging. Our cities embody both the weight of systemic constraints and the resilience of underground communities. They hold the push and pull of wealth, power, and preservation alongside the fusion of cultures, aspirations, and identities. Within this, “the diversity within the diversity” becomes a lens to explore how connection and constraint coexist.

In a perfect dichotomy, billboards serve as both literal and symbolic platforms for art—shared experiences made visible to all, yet elevated high above the streets, distant enough to provoke a moment of reflection. They remind us of the forces that grab our attention, guide, and unconsciously shape us, even as we navigate the rush of everyday life.

Opening June 27, 2025, SaveArtSpace will launch a public art installation for the selected artwork on billboard ad space in Los Angeles, CA. The public art will be on view for at least one month.

Selected Artist

Location: Broadway & W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA

Doug Hickman Jr. is a multidisciplinary artist residing in Los Angeles, from Chicago, IL. Doug's practice is informed by architecture, set production and styling. He aims to explore elements of heritage, history and self-expression with his works.

Connect with Doug at @doughickmanjr.

Curator

Nakeyta Moore is an art advisor, curator, and performance artist dedicated to fostering dynamic, immersive experiences that challenge conventional boundaries. Through her curatorial vision and evocative performances, she creates thought-provoking narratives that celebrate culture, identity, spirituality, and our connections to Earth and each other. 

Connect with Nakeyta at @gogogoldie_ent & @artloudla.

SaveArtSpace

Founded in 2015, SaveArtSpace is a non-profit organization that works to create an urban gallery experience, launching exhibitions that address intersectional themes and foster a message of social change that benefits the working class. By placing culture over commercialism, SaveArtSpace aims to empower artists from all walks of life and inspire a new generation of young creatives and activists.