Meet Kevin Gene Brown, Jr., and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project The Façade of Luxury
This is one in a series of online interviews with MIAD seniors, who share their thoughts about their 2026 Senior Exhibition project and their MIAD education.
Kevin Gene Brown, Jr., ’26 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice) is a Dean’s List student from Racine, Wis.
What is your “elevator pitch” for your senior exhibition project?
My senior exhibition introduces The Facade of Luxury: Urban Antiques, a collection of mixed-media works merging master leathercraft with expressive portraiture to reclaim stolen Black histories. Drawing from my experience at COACH and my role as a father to non-verbal children, the project critiques the “facade of luxury” while celebrating the enduring substance of the Black spirit. These hand-stitched heirlooms are designed to fill a historical void, transforming utilitarian tools into permanent objects of status and Legacy.
Kevin Brown, Jr., “Your Hy’Ness,” 2026.
Kevin Brown, Jr., “K’Allure,” 2026.
Kevin Brown, Jr., leather sculpture, 2026.
Kevin Brown, Jr.
Anything you’d like to share about yourself or MIAD?
MIAD was a life-altering experience where I transcended painting to master new trades and the art of storytelling. Through rigorous mental and spiritual growth, I found a purpose-driven work ethic that allows me to create for long hours in a day, fueled by the realization that I have found my true calling. I learned how to listen to God, and I leave this institution empowered by genuine connections and the belief that my consistency will spark a lasting, multi-generational impact far beyond my studio walls.
Read more about the 2026 Fine Art + New Studio Practice Senior Exhibition at the Charles Allis Art Museum, March 18 – April 19.
News
Moonlight Retreat Builds Connection
Since 2018, MIAD faculty member Naomi Shersty has been creating space for artists and nonartists alike to step away from the demands of everyday life and reconnect through creativity, community and nature.
A Tribute to Horicon Works: Barany’s Mural Celebrates Products, History and Community
A new mural at John Deere’s Horicon Works is bringing the company’s history to life, and it was created by MIAD professor and alum James Barany ’92 (Drawing).
Containment Breach Selected for ICON13 Motion Commotion Screening
Parker Deutsch ’26 (Illustration – Animation Track) recently had the animated short “Containment Breach” selected for screening in Motion Commotion, part of ICON13, the Illustration Conference. The showcase features innovative animation and motion-based work from illustrators and animators across the field.
MAKE! Participants Reflect on Creativity, Community and Growth
Alicia Zapata, a second-year MAKE! participant from Chicago and a K-8 art teacher at Waters Elementary School in Chicago, IL, Kelly Wendel, an eighth-year participant and art teacher at Nicolet High School in Glendale, WI and Gail Kowsky, a second-year participant and sixth- and seventh-grade art teacher in New Brighton, Minnesota, reflected on what they gained from this year’s program.
Meet Maya Koehn and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project L’Atelier
Maya Koehn ‘26 (Interior Architecture and Design) is a President’s (Honor) List student from Sheboygan, Wis., currently employed as a Junior Designer at Direct Supply.