06/19/2026
Juneteenth celebrations include honoring the enduring legacy of Black artistry to shape culture, ignite conversation, and redefine what’s possible. Today, we celebrate the Black creatives at Academy of Art University whose diverse disciplines illuminate history, give voice to the modern experience, and design a more inclusive future.
Donzhane Lyans (MA Fashion Art Direction)
Clothes are stories with history, meaning, and a legacy. This blend of education, cultural empowerment, and art has revived what it means to use one’s talents and turn them into power.
Janay Minor (BFA Illustration)
Janay Minor, a passionate Atlanta-based artist known as Blaze. Blaze succeeds in creating vibrant illustrations and crafts, showcasing her strong conceptual vision and keen eye for color. Her artistic focus lies in digital and mixed-media illustration.
Zoe Arnold (BFA Fine Art Painting)
A multidisciplinary artist, born and raised in Southern California. She pulls inspiration through abstraction or surrealism.
Erik James Montgomery (MFA Photography)
Erik James Montgomery is a fine art photographer, educator, and "Art-ivist" whose work centers on the beauty, complexity, and resilience of the Black experience.
Nasir Dowdell (MA Fashion Art Direction)
Inspired by the Last Supper. What a fabulous feast? Have a seat and enjoy the serve. A story dedicated to the black sheep and outcast. This story serves as a reminder the minority is the commodity. Although often left in the shadows, our shine cannot be dimmed.
Keon Washington (MFA Animation & Visual Effects)
3D character animator focused on storytelling and worldbuilding. Bringing characters to life has always been his goal.
Zamaria Pace (AA Illustration)
A digital artist who fuses authentic cultural representation with sharp, high-energy illustrative styles.
Sean Blanchard (MFA Industrial Design)
An industrial design 2026 graduate with 16+ years in Mechanical Engineering. His goal after graduation is to work professionally as an Industrial Designer and eventually teach courses in Product Design.
