Artist Spotlight: Derick Lee Brings Spoken Word to the Screen with On the Way
-article written by Ia Lewis
The Iredell Arts Council is excited to spotlight local spoken-word artist and
Artist Support Grant recipient, Derick Lee. A deeply skilled poet and performer, Lee brings rawness, intensity, and expression to the stage. Supported by the Iredell Arts Council’s Artist Support Grant, Lee’s newest project, On the Way, serves as a beacon for black youth and a timelessly relevant reminder that “we are all on our way somewhere.” With a background in teaching, social work, and slam poetry, Derick’s unique voice brings an uplifting, personal quality to his performances, empowering Lee to recognize audiences through poignant reflections of his own struggles, joy, and unwavering persistence.
A dynamic talent, Derick Lee’s words have carried him to stages across the country. Whether delivering high-energy slams or resonant musings, Derick leads with authenticity, connecting with audiences through masterful performance. Derick’s published works are equally compelling, with his ongoing book series, Stream of Consciousness, gathering many of Lee’s purest contemplations within its three volumes.
Now taking his artistry even further, Lee promises to capture similar soulfulness in his exciting new venture, On the Way. Filmed before a live audience at the Blumenthal Theater, On the Way compiles themes of family, loss, community, and Black male identity in a signature forty-five-minute spoken-word special. Premiering on April fourth at Charlotte’s Independent Picture House, the project represents a major step in Lee’s blossoming artistic career, offering him the opportunity to connect with a broader audience, expand his artistic portfolio, and immortalize his poetic voice in film. The culmination of many months of work, this exciting night will feature a screening of the special, as well as several live, community-driven elements, including an artist discussion and facilitated audience Q&A.
Deep in preparation for the approaching screening, Derick cites the Iredell Arts Council’s Artist Support Grant as a major asset in both the realization of this project and the development of his larger artistic career. In Derick’s words, the grant has enabled him to “launch [his] work into the public sphere in a way that is polished, professional, and far-reaching,” taking him “from being an artist who creates to being an artist who presents and sustains their work in the public eye.”
To learn more about On the Way and the work of Derick Lee, visit his Instagram here.
