Southside Chicago visual artist William Baker III’s work celebrates and critiques the duality of the natural and human made. Starting as a filmmaker, his documentaries on the passing of Laquan McDonald and the closure of CPS schools, his work challenged viewers to engage in conversation about resistance, innovation, history and alternative futures. He transitioned to textile art in 2022, focusing on tufting and industrial sewing, maintaining his commitment to use art as community dialogue. He has been a published filmmaker, a grant recipient, a fashion entrepreneur, a community organizer, and a writer for the National Park Service.