ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Dr. Yaba Blay
Most Incredible Studio (MIS), the creative studio that turns memory into tangible, cultural collectibles using LEGO® bricks as its medium, proudly announces Dr. Yaba Blay as its inaugural Professional Black Girl-in-Residence.
Dr. Blay is a scholar, cultural worker, and the visionary behind Professional Black Girl — a multimedia platform celebrating the everyday genius and lived experiences of Black women and girls. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, ESSENCE, and O Magazine, and she is the author of the groundbreaking One Drop: Shifting the Lens on Race. Her highly anticipated second book, to become beautiful, is forthcoming.
The residency marks the beginning of a new MIS initiative designed to collaborate with cultural leaders who carry stories, traditions, and communities into the physical world through MIS artifacts. The residency marks the beginning of a new MIS initiative designed to collaborate with cultural leaders who carry stories, traditions, and communities into the physical world through MIS artifacts.
“When Syreeta mentioned to me that she wanted to infuse Black girl culture into Most Incredible Studio’s canon, I told her there was no way I would allow her to do that without ME! She laughed, but I was serious. The idea of merging what she does with what we do and how we do it is beyond exciting” — it’s necessary.”
- DR. YABA BLAY
Founder of Professional Black Girl
“Yaba’s brilliance is unmatched — she has spent her life committed to centering and celebrating Black women in all of our power, joy, and everyday genius. She’s also a very dear friend, which makes this moment even more special. At Most Incredible Studio, our mission is to make memory tangible, and I’m elated that together we get to bring elements from our culture into form in a way that people can play with, build, and remember.”
- SYREETA GATES
Founder of Most Incredible Studio
As part of the residency, you can expect:
Limited-edition cultural artifacts designed in collaboration with Dr. Blay.
A surprise in MIS’s signature collectible packaging, including a custom booklet, premium box design, and keepsake elements.
Community conversations and digital activations connecting MIS's mission of making memory visible with Blay's ongoing work, celebrating everyday Black brilliance.
Behind-the-scenes content documenting the creative collaboration.
The MIS Residency program will expand in the coming year to spotlight cultural creators from a variety of traditions, each bringing their voice to the MIS universe through sets, packaging, and storytelling.