Meet Vincent Thomas: He’s a local professional multidisciplinary artist and community leader with public art works on display across Waco, including two on Elm Avenue: The Jockey Club mural and Tree of Life mural (co-designed with Cade Kegerreis).
His journey to Waco: “My experience growing up in Waco was special. And what I mean by that is no other place in the world felt like it. Waco truly felt like home. From getting haircuts and a link basket from Lee’s on Saturdays to meeting on the Bridge for the Fourth of July, I remember having tons of fun and thinking life was pure bliss. So when I left and came back to so many changes, it was eye-opening to see my hometown adopt a newfound energy.”
How he’s making a difference: Vincent founded A Beautiful Message to mentor young Waco artists and co-founded BLACCENT, a community nonprofit.
VINCENT THOMAS
“Art is a shared experience. I want the city to really recognize that one experience doesn’t take away from the other. We’re all here to have this conversation, and art and artists are here to provoke these conversations, the positive dialogue and sometimes negative dialogues. ”
What inspires this work: “My work and community involvement are inspired by the African-American community that exists in Waco. Our experience is one-of-a-kind, and we have an iconic history and cultural highlights within the city. From a young age, my parents taught me the importance of maintaining community and having people around you that you can trust and build with. Some call it family. So for me, my ‘fam’ inspires me to grind and represent them in a light that exudes excellence, strength, and pride.”
How he sees Waco: Vincent sees Waco as a land of opportunity. He believes Waco is growing fairly quickly, yet there’s a lot of room for growth. And for new foundations to form, and old traditions to re-emerge. “In my opinion, it’s the Heart of Central Texas, so we must continue to pour love into the city. Make it stand out from the rest.”
His hopes for Waco’s future: He envisions a diverse, clean city with a distinct culture and activities, a city that is accessible to locals and travelers. “I would love to see Waco honor more of our incredible civilians and the historical figures that built the city we know today.”
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Waco Voices is a project by The Waco Bridge to highlight unsung heroes in our community who are bringing about positive change. If you know of someone we should highlight in this series, email Community Engagement and Events Manager Dominic Villa at dominic.villa@wacobridge.org.
