Roberto Lugo is a Philadelphia-based artist, ceramicist, social activist, poet, and educator who utilizes classical pottery forms in conjunction with portraiture and surface designs reminiscent of his North Philadelphia upbringing and hip-hop culture to highlight themes of poverty, inequality, and racial injustice. His work has been featured in exhibitions and/or has become part of the permanent collections of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Walters Art Museum, and more. He is the recipient of numerous awards including a Heinz Award, Philadelphia’s Cultural Treasures award, and a Pew Fellowship.