N.C. A&T Visual Arts Student featured as NBA All-Star x HBCU Artist

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 29, 2024) – Jaylen Brannon, a senior visual media arts and design student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, has been featured as a 2024 NBA All-Star x HBCU artist.

Brannon, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, is known for his multidisciplinary approach to art, tackling themes of racial injustice and reshaping narratives within his diverse portfolio.

At the NBA All-Star game held earlier this year in Indianapolis, Brannon's highlighted artwork, a painting titled “The Pursuit of Knowledge,” encapsulated the relentless quest for knowledge and the ongoing fight for equality within the Black community.

“Overall, the painting presents the pursuit of knowledge as a weapon to combat systematic injustice,” said Brannon, whose work shines a spotlight on the challenges faced by the Black community while honoring its resilience and diversity.

According to NBA officials, the NBA All-Star x HBCU Student Art Showcase is committed to celebrate, mentor and inspire the next generation of emerging underrepresented artists and designers. Additionally, the showcase provides opportunities for professional development, career advancement, media training and increased visibility for students and athletic programs at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

“We are immensely proud of Jaylen’s talent and dedication to using art as a tool for social change,” said Amy Schwartzott, Ph.D., N.C. A&T associate professor and curator of the University Galleries. “His participation in the NBA All-Star x HBCU student showcase exemplifies the caliber of creativity and innovation cultivated within our Visual Arts program.”

Brannon’s artwork was shared throughout the NBA’s social media channels and platforms.

In addition to his NBA All-Star recognition, Brannon is a participating student artist in the Senior Art Exhibition on display at the N.C. A&T University Galleries through May 24.

Brannon follows in the footsteps of the 2023 winner from the visual arts program, Janiya Barcliff, whose artwork titled “Self Discovery” was featured at the NBA All Star x HBCU Student Art Showcase.

For more information about Brannon’s NBA All-Star x HBCU Student Art Showcase feature, visit https://www.nba.com/news/nba-all-star-x-hbcu-student-showcase-jaylen-brannon.