We had the good fortune of connecting with Blake-Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Blake-Lee, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I discovered genuine connections in my community through visual storytelling and social research, my business found me. I am an artist, sociology researcher and game designer who creates fun, interactive experiences for different communities. I design hands-on games as creative outlets for exploring cultural experiences and perspectives in tactile ways.

My business started with selling mixed media art to individual buyers, but after gaining experience working in libraries, museums and non-profits in North Carolina, my work shifted to collaborative design and consulting. I now help organizations engage with their communities through visual research and design strategies.

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro is where I developed my interdisciplinary background in fine art, sociology and library science and began creating visually engaging ways to connect with and learn from people. I currently work as an art, design and digital media librarian at UNC Greensboro and found creative scholars who encouraged me to start my own business. This wonderful journey has led me to develop international partnerships in London, Ireland and Italy who now request my services to better reach their communities.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets me apart from other creatives is my interdisciplinary business that combines visual art, sociology and library science to design hands-on games and fiber art. With the support of friends, family and academic mentors, I’ve learned how to become successful as an artist, librarian, researcher and game designer.

My primary creative work involves developing card and board games with libraries, museums and non-profits. These games are designed to help organizations engage with their communities through visual art and conversations that spark during gameplay.

Currently, I’m excited to be working on four big projects!

Card Gameplay: I’m facilitating card games in community spaces across the world using decks that feature images of artwork by over 50 North Carolina-based artists. These decks help organizations learn how to build their own games using images from their collections to better connect with their communities.

Board Game Design: I’m designing a fun, accessible board game with a local non-profit to advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Library Research: I’m conducting sociology research on how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools impact academic library work and plan to develop data visualizations and visual artwork based research findings.

Fiber Art Practice: I am very excited about my newest crocheted lampshades and lanterns. They are very colorful and I love playing with light.

All my creative work revolves around discovering patterns and making connections. The journey to starting my own business was unexpected, but incredibly rewarding. Whether I am learning how people interpret artwork or making free-from crocheted pieces, I love having the ability to start each day with a new creative approach and mindset.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In Greensboro, there are a lot of neat places to check out!

One of the best creative spaces in Downtown Greensboro is Greensboro Project Space. This small art gallery built in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, features artwork of all mediums, created by college students, local art professionals and more creators. Check out their instagram (@greensboroprojectspace) to see upcoming events!

On our shopping days, I’d take my friend to Design Archives: Vintage & Handmade Emporium. This sweet little store hosts multiple creative sellers in booths of vintage clothes, artwork and hand-made goodies.

For shopping a little outside of town, I’d take her to Reconsidered Goods: my favorite shop in Greensboro (and my go-to place for my art supplies) has a vast and varied collection of yarns, fabrics, knick-knacks, home decor and much more.

For lunch, we’d get chicken kabobs from my favorite mediterranean restaurant, Sarah’s Kabob Shop. For nature days, we’d go to the Arboretum for a nice stroll through the botanical gardens or LeBauer Park to walk our dogs and have a picnic.

For nights on the town, I’d take her to one of my four favorite bars: Oden Brewery, Joymongers, Neighbors, or Little Brother Brewing. And after a long night out, we’d head to Biscuitville for a bacon, egg and cheese biscuits—don’t forget the hashbrowns!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank my professors, librarians, mentors and cohorts at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, who helped me develop the critical, creative skills I needed to become the successful artist, researcher and educator I am today.

I also want to give a heartfelt shoutout to Greensboro Public Library (McGirt-Horton Branch) for their tremendous support, kindness and encouragement. It is where I built a strong family unit with library patrons and my colleagues Denise, Angel, John, Jada Weathers, Valerie Coll, Riley, Brittany, Brandon & many more — who strengthened my self-confidence and always made me feel at home.

My family – my mom Tara, my brother Taylor, my grandparents John & Judy, my partner Topher, and kids Emmeline & Emerson, all current & future Alexanders, my dad Alan, my corgi, Jeorgie, my lovely aunts, uncles & cousins.

My amazing photographers: Yanni Xoinis, Robert Benfield and Sean Norona!

Supporting artists, friends & fans who have inspired me, collaborated with me, and reminded me why creativity and care matter – Kate Robinson, Hannah Phillips, Jesse Einhorn-Johnson, Joe Blocker, Sheridan Kelly, Emily Furr, Symone Vaye, Anthony Carter, Sydni Pettway, Tamora McLemore, Sarah Williams, Chiaretta L., Stefano Fusillo, Luisa Nunez, Kidd Karena Graves, Taylor Allison, Amy Gordon, Hugh Bryant, Kevin Vanek, Jason Lord, Matt Goshow, Tamra Hunt, Emma Lovely, Cassandra Liuzzo, Dane Winkler, Allison Daniel, Emily Moser, Malanah Hobgood, Bjorn Bates, Madison Brown, Hailey Chilton, Neeraj Sebastien, Anna Rafalowski, Carrie Comer, Connor McNerney, Heidi Zenisek, Alma Stott, Max Baynes, Heather Gerni, James Clemmons, Caity Whisenant, Claire Stromberg, Patrick Healy, Caitlyn Schrader and Leah Junquera, Sebastian Carpenter, Kelly Rambo, Allen, Onra, Mason Winfree, Janie Ledford, Nikki Blair, Sam Fribush, Nill, Hawke, Levi, Hannah Sutton, Kim McHone, Scarlett Hill, Madi Hill and Nancy Drew

UNCG & Library mentors – Justin Harmon, Cheryl Cross, Paula Damasceno, Elaine Gustafson, Keyara Quick, Charlie Birkner, Nick McCollister and the ROI Crew, Steve Cramer, Maggie Murphy and the GenAI Study investigators, Ireland Study Abroad leaders & library graduate cohorts, Dr. Lisa O’Connor, Tammy Gruer, Lori Sands, Kat Z. G, Jamie S., Lindsay S., Sociology graduate cohort McKayla Bohannon, Heidi Liles, Kristen Catoe, Todd Madigan and Steve Kroll-Smith who have supported my academic growth and helped me find my voice as a researcher and educator.

Thought-partners and collaborators – Cynthia Swain, Lizzy Moriarty, Stuart Scheleien and Ginger Walton and more, who challenge me to grow and help bring collaborative projects to life.

Thank you, all!

Website: https://www.blake-lee.com/

Instagram: @blake.lee.edu_ and @blake_lee_art

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-lee/

Image Credits
Yanni Xoinis, Robert Benfield, Sean Norona

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