Patrisse Cullors: Artist, Abolitionist, and Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter

• Date of Birth: June 20, 1983
• Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California

Patrisse Marie Khan-Cullors Brignac (born June 20, 1983) is an American artist, author, and progressive activist best known as one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement.

In 2013, she created the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter alongside Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin. What began as a social media response evolved into a global movement addressing police brutality, racial injustice, and systemic oppression.

Born in Los Angeles, California, Cullors grew up in poverty in Van Nuys and witnessed firsthand the impacts of mass incarceration, police violence, and mental health crises, particularly through her brother Monte’s experiences in the prison system. A trained Marxist and prison abolitionist, she advocates for the dismantling of the prison-industrial complex, reparations, and LGBTQ+ rights.

She holds a degree in religion and philosophy from UCLA and an MFA from the University of Southern California’s Roski School of Art and Design.

Beyond activism, Cullors is a prolific multidisciplinary artist whose work explores spirituality, Yoruba traditions (particularly Ifá), and abolitionist aesthetics. Her memoir When They Call You a Terrorist (2018) became a New York Times bestseller.

She has exhibited at major institutions including MOCA, The Broad, and LACMA, and continues to create art that merges spiritual practice with political resistance. She is also the founder of the Crenshaw Dairy Mart artist collective in South Central Los Angeles.

Official Links

• Official Website: https://www.patrissecullors.com/
• Crenshaw Dairy Mart (her artist collective/gallery): https://www.crenshawdairymart.com/

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