Description

This handcrafted ceramic cup was sculpted on a pottery wheel and painted with underglaze. The imagery on the cup depicts a narrative of lineage and urban vision; I pay homage to my grandfather, the eminent African American architect Walter R. Livingston Junior.

Adorning its surface are the blueprints and drafting papers that echo his life’s work—a symphony of lines and angles that shaped the architectural landscape of many of Walter Livingston’s notable buildings and designs around Philadelphia, including the Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice, the Clef Club for Jazz, Zion Baptist Church, Progress Plaza, and the Leon H. Sullivan Charitable Trust Building. Each brush stroke on this artwork carries the weight of his legacy, weaving together a tapestry of innovation and community spirit.

Embedded within the intricate design on this cup is the essence of my upbringing—the echoes of my childhood home on Locust Street in West Philly on a street that was immortalized as Livingston Way on the signage in honor of my grandfather’s public service.

Walter R. Livingston Junior’s journey in life was marked by resilience, determination, and a profound sense of purpose. In this vessel, I offer not just a tribute to his career but also a reflection of the family and social justice values he imparted—a legacy of creativity, integrity, and social responsibility.

May this cup serve as a vessel of remembrance—a tangible symbol of a life lived with passion and purpose that has a continuum into the work of his granddaughter. Through its form and imagery, let us celebrate Livingston’s imprint on the world—an enduring legacy that continues to inspire and uplift us all.