Artist Chelsea B Unveils Plastic-Covered Couch as Symbol of Protection for Black History at Juneteenth Event

As part of the third Juneteenth activation from The HUB, BarkleyOKRP’s Black Employee Resource Group, fibre artist Chelsea B has created a symbolic plastic-covered couch to represent the protection and preservation of Black history and cultural legacies. The artwork, titled 'Protect Our Piece,' features 19 topics and issues—including Black Joy, The Black Vote, Black Owned Businesses, The Obamas, and Juneteenth—knitted into the couch, which is then covered in plastic to symbolize safeguarding.

The couch, a staple in Black American households, will be unveiled at the 6th Annual Juneteenth Freedom Market on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. It will anchor a space for community discussion on preserving cultural artifacts. Following the launch, Chelsea B will host an experience at the Obama Museum during Juneteenth weekend, emphasizing the importance of protecting Black contributions.

"Unfortunately, we've arrived at a moment where the deliberate erasure of Black people and our contributions to this country isn't just a threat - it's policy!" said George Chapman, Creative Director at BarkleyOKRP. "Protect Our Piece is our refusal to let that go unchecked. Black culture, Black ideas, Black ingenuity have always been the blueprint. We're just making sure that stays on record." He added that collaborating with Chelsea B transformed the concept into an indispensable physical artifact that cannot be altered and will travel to demand recognition.

Danielle Young, art director at BarkleyOKRP, noted that Black culture has long been preserved in homes before the world acknowledged its impact. "This campaign was inspired by the everyday objects, spaces, and traditions that quietly carry our stories forward, and by the idea that they deserve to be honoured as cultural treasures worth protecting and celebrating," she said. William Owusu, another art director at the firm, expressed pride in using the plastic-covered couch as a living archive to reclaim and protect Black contributions.

The HUB is producing social films to promote the installation, including teasers, behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with Chelsea B, across Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and Substack. The couch features 19 topics that can also be viewed on a dedicated website, where users can submit additional items they believe deserve protection within the Black community. Chelsea B, a Chicago-based fibre artist and founder of House of Chelsea, is known for her custom crochet garments and has worked with brands such as Nike, Jordan, and Adidas, and musicians including Lizzo and Megan Thee Stallion. Her work is displayed at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.