Matthew Dickey (’13)

“What’s a Streetscape Curator? Heck if I know but I was called one in an article once and I liked it.”

Dickey works to share, promote, and tell stories about why our cities look the way they do. His projects are not buildings or landscapes. They are photographs, paintings, films, and projects about the people and places that make our surroundings unique. They are the histories hidden in bricks, stories on land use, or the many chapters of triple-deckers. His goal is to spark curiosity and make people aware of–and interested in–the built world around them. He makes architecture equitable, accessible, and appreciated.

Dickey grew up on Route 66 in Collinsville, Illinois just outside of St. Louis where he developed an obsession with architecture at a young age, touring Frank Lloyd Wright homes and taking advantage of all the free museums in the city.

When he didn’t get into architecture school Dickey got a BFA in painting instead from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville. Dickey came to BU for his M.S. in Arts Administration in 2011, and has been in Dorchester ever since. He hopes to someday paint enough buildings of Boston to make a book that will combine his paintings with the history of every location shared.

When he’s not being “The Streetscape Curator” Dickey is the Director of Communications and Operations at the Boston Preservation Alliance and a curious Ambassador for the popular website (and book!) Accidentally Wes Anderson. Follow along to learn more about his curious urban discoveries on Instagram at @StreetscapeCurator.