| About the 2025 award: $50,000 to support the creation and documentation of God’s Peace: Bind, an art installation that explores shared human connection through the universal act of braiding, storytelling and spiritual reflection. |
Ricky Davii is a multidisciplinary artist and producer originally from St. Louis, Missouri, currently living and creating between Pittsburgh and New York City.
He began his creative journey in 2010 as a hairstylist under the name Seto McCoy, working with renowned artists such as Raveena and Daniel Kaluuya. His work has been featured on platforms such as Vogue, Elle, and I-D Magazine, marking the start of a dynamic, cross-disciplinary career rooted in storytelling and cultural expression.
In 2019, Ricky founded Slick Crew Studio, a creative production tech company, to give indie brands access to the same caliber of creative and technical talent that bigger players take for granted. With a mission to stay grounded in equity, inclusion, and bold representation as a queer Black creative, he has cultivated spaces where artists can show up authentically and thrive. Through Slick, he has collaborated with leading brands including Keys Soulcare by Alicia Keys, Flo Health and Serena Williams Jewelry.
A certified project manager, Ricky brings both creative vision and strategic structure to his work. In 2024, he was named the inaugural Artist-in-Residence for the August Wilson Archive at the University of Pittsburgh’s Hillman Library. During this residency, he developed the multimedia exhibition Ev’ry Thing That Glitta, Ain’t, inspired by Wilson’s unreleased works. The exhibition was presented at Hillman Library, Museum Lab and Assemble Gallery in Pittsburgh.
In September 2024, Ricky traveled to Japan as part of a cultural exchange with A Safe Space, an experience that informed the early development of his upcoming project, God's Peace Bind. The journey was later featured in PopSugar, highlighting his artistic process and personal reflections.
In 2025, was a part of multiple collective art shows throughout Pittsburgh.
Across all mediums, Ricky Davii remains committed to creating immersive, boundary-pushing experiences that center culture, healing and unapologetic expression.