18 Black Artists Showcased Their Powerful Work Front and Center at the US Open

Cheryl R. Riley is an artist, furniture designer, and art advisor who has been creating wall-art installations and custom pieces since 1986. Through her art, Riley explores the similarities between cultures that seem different using the lens of "gender, history, rituals, implements, and symbols."

Riley's piece "Black Lives Have Mattered" highlights the names of just a few people whose accomplishments constitute memorable "firsts" for the African-American community. "They and others I included overcame undemocratic, racist and/or sexist barriers and are the beacons of liberty, justice and freedom that the United States is to the world," Riley said. "My hope is that their names will spark conversations and deeper investigations that lead to appreciation, inclusion and respect."