Episode Description

This episode of Beyond the Surface features Davey Friday, an artist from the South Side of Chicago, urban designer at Perkins&Will, and a multidisciplinary creative whose work bridges art, architecture, and landscape architecture. With a background that spans a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Roosevelt University to graduate studies in both architecture and landscape architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology, Davey brings a unique perspective shaped by both scientific inquiry and creative expression. In this episode, he reflects on how art, identity, and place have guided his journey into design.

“It’s my peace and it is my therapy, and it’s my prayer. Even if nobody saw it, even if I ended up giving up that ambition of sharing my work, I would still be creative because it is so important to my sanity.”

Growing up in Bronzeville, Davey was surrounded by a deep sense of cultural and familial history that continues to inform his work today.  Art was a constant presence in his life from an early age, serving as both an outlet and a foundation for how he understands the world: “It’s my peace and it is my therapy, and it’s my prayer. Even if nobody saw it, even if I ended up giving up that ambition of sharing my work, I would still be creative because it is so important to my sanity.” Though he initially pursued biology, that path ultimately clarified where his true passion lay. His return to creative disciplines through architecture and landscape architecture became a way to merge analytical thinking with artistic purpose.

Throughout the conversation, Davey speaks to the importance of representation, memory, and the built environment, referencing the history of Mecca Flats as a powerful example of how Black cultural narratives have been erased in the name of progress and comfort for others. His work, including an exhibition with Roland Knowlen focused on understanding Black history in Chicago, reflects a commitment to uncovering and honoring these stories. At the same time, he shares an early aspiration to leave Chicago and explore other cities, balancing a desire for discovery with a deep-rooted connection to home.

“All of the issues we see in inner cities are by design.”

Grounded in both lived experience and critical awareness, Davey approaches design as a means of addressing systemic inequities in the built environment. “All of the issues we see in inner cities are by design,” he explains, pointing to the structural forces that shape neighborhoods and opportunities. His ambition is to create spaces that feel intentional, nurturing, and dignified environments that support people from childhood through adulthood, where beauty replaces neglect and design becomes a tool for care rather than exclusion. His story ultimately challenges us to consider how creativity, memory, and responsibility intersect in shaping the spaces we inhabit.