Annual celebrations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy at MIT

MLK-Inspired Art & Performance Contest

Enjoy the visual art and performances of MIT community members.

Visual, literary, and performance arts inspired by the ideals of Dr. King are a powerful way to honor his work and legacy. The arts can teach us deeply about freedom, justice, peace, equality, civil rights, human rights, and social justice.

Enter the contest by submitting:

  • visual art (painting, photography, sculpture, video)
  • performance art (music, song, spoken word, dance, theater)
  • literary work (poetry, short story, speech, play)

That evoke feelings of:

  • The past – embodying MLK’s mission.
  • The present – highlighting this year’s theme, upholding the flame for fairness and justice.
  • The future – showing us hope through joy.

The contest is open to all MIT undergraduate and graduate students, staff, postdocs, and faculty.

Prizes up to $200 are awarded to winning entries.

Please submit your artwork by January 20th, 2023.

SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY

2023 MLK Art Exhibition

MIT community members were invited to honor the legacy of Dr. King with visual, literary, and performance arts inspired by his ideals. Their works embodied his mission, highlighted the year’s theme of upholding the flame for fairness and justice, or showed us hope for the future with joy. Winning submissions were displayed February 6-10, 2023 in MIT Lobby 10.

Past submissions to the Annual MLK-Inspired Art and Performance Contest

Submission to the 2nd Annual MIT Martin Luther King Inspired Art and Performance Contest (2014)

2017
2013: photography presentation
2013: outfit by Christina Qi ‘13
2013: Pen & ink drawing by
Ruben Lozano Aguilera ‘G
2013: Sculpture by Izunna
Okonkwo ’16