Nicolas Lampert is well known throughout the Milwaukee community as an artist, published author and influential art instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. But spend a little time getting to know him and you will discover he sees himself more as a participant and chronicler of the fight for social justice.

 “Art is, in my opinion, key to visualizing and documenting history,” according to Lampert. “It’s a value structure. Milwaukee has a long history of struggle and a long history of artists being part of movements.”

Lampert dedicates much of his time to fighting for the causes he believes in. He serves as a part-time art organizer for Voces de la Frontera, the largest immigrant rights group in Wisconsin and helped form the Art Build Workers, a Milwaukee-based collective that organizes art builds with teacher unions across the country in collaboration with the National Education Association, the largest union in the country.

The same passion for social justice and the people who sacrifice to create a better world runs throughout Lampert’s work. The Milwaukee native has created four large scale digital prints to be displayed in Baird Center. Viewed separately the pieces stand out as striking works of art, but when viewed together they tell the important story of how people can use their voice and skills to bring about positive change.

Two of the pieces depict one of the most influential people in Milwaukee’s civil rights movement and a pioneering woman in politics, Vel R. Phillips. As the first black woman elected to the Milwaukee Common Council, appointed a Milwaukee judge and elected to statewide office, Phillips blazed a trail for future generations of women of color.

“I chose Vel Phillips because she is so important,” Lampert says. “She stood for fighting for justice and fighting for fair housing. What she did was historic and we should celebrate her today because these problems still need to be addressed.”

The other two prints show three of the most iconic athletes in Milwaukee’s history. Designed to resemble classic sports trading cards, visitors to Baird Center will quickly recognize the images of Hank Aaron in his classic Milwaukee Braves uniform and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Giannis Antetokounmpo sharing the same canvas of classic Milwaukee Bucks colors.

While, the fact all three superstars won championships when playing in Milwaukee played a small role in Lampert choosing to depict them, having their likenesses on display in Baird Center was important to him for a different reason. It is their personal stories of grace and dignity while facing the challenges of racism and inequity.

“I want viewers to learn more about these individuals and dig deeper into their lives and what they represent,” states Lampert. “The pride that so many of us have in Milwaukee is based on the unbelievable achievements of these giants and their stories should inspire us all.”

And what does it mean for Lampert to have his work included with the other artists contributing to Baird Center? For him it is all about his pride in his hometown.

“It really matters to do art in your community,” Lampert says. “Having work that is going to be shown in Baird Center in Milwaukee is more significant to me than having a work in a major museum in New York City or anywhere in the world.”