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National Black Arts Festival’s 17th Annual Fine Art + Fashion Benefit was held on Thursday, April 20, at Atlanta History Center. Two-time Academy Award Winner Ruth E. Carter (right) was honored at this year’s event. Ms. Carter is pictured above with 2023 Fine Art + Fashion honorees Visual Artist Shanequa Gay (center), and Fashion Designer Busayo Olupona (left).

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Ruth E. Carter (center), attorney Lisa Bonner (left) and NBAF Board Member Angela Watts (right).

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L to R: Rebecca Smith, Stephanie Owens (NBAF Executive Director), Busayo Olupona, Ruth E. Carter, Shanequa Gay, Oronike Odeleye (Artistic Director, NBAF) Guests.

Kim Evans Photography

L to R: Derek J, Cynthia Bailey, Monyetta Shaw, and Lisa Bonner.

NBAF hosted their 17th Annual Fine Art + Fashion Benefit sponsored by Neiman Marcus last Thursday at the Atlanta History Center. The event brought together lovers of art and fashion and highlighted emerging designers of color through the annual Fashion Forward Student Design Competition.

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NBAF’s 2023 Fashion Forward Student Design winners were Jakarie Akhil Whitaker (pictured above), a junior at Clark Atlanta University, and Yemisi Sanni (pictured below), a junior at Savannah College of Art and Design.

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Each NBAF Fashion Forward honoree received a cash prize of $2,000. Their work will also be highlighted with a showcase at Neiman Marcus.

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Angela Watts (10 Squared Publicist and NBAF Board Member) poses with Visual Artist Charly Palmer.

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L-R: Quad Webb (Married to Medicine), Adrene (House of Adrene), Lisa Bonner (Entertainment Attorney), Tameka Foster (Celebrity Stylist), Jennifer Drake (Music Executive), Monyetta Shaw, Judge Terrinee Gundy, Eboni Elektra (Health & Wellness Guru), Phillana Williams (Music Executive), Tracy Nicole (Fashion Designer), Cynthia Bailey (RHOA), and Iman Ramadan (Celebrity Stylist).

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Fine Art + Fashion raises funds to support NBAF’s operations and programs for artists of all ages and disciplines, particularly youth arts education programs for underserved students of African descent.

Kim Evans Photography

Special guests in attendance included: Cynthia Bailey (pictured), Monyetta Shaw (RHOA), Tameka Foster Raymond (Author, Entrepreneur), Quad Webb (Married to Medicine), Charly Palmer (Visual Artist), Jennifer Drake (Sr. Director, Sony Music Group), Iman Ramadan (Celebrity Stylist), Branden Zayden (Designer), Derek J (Celebrity Hairstylist and NBAF Board Member), Adrene (House of Adrene), Judge Terrinee Gundy, and more.

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