My artistic journey began early—selected for a visual arts magnet school in fifth grade, I quickly understood my path would be as an artist. My foundation was rooted in traditional arts, from analog graphic design to ceramics, where I first earned major recognition for my work in high school. In 1990, I won Level 1 in the YoungArts competition and was nominated as a Presidential Scholar, which led to a merit scholarship at the Maryland Institute College of Art. My education in fine arts opened doors to significant opportunities, including working with renowned artists and contributing to public art projects.

 

Throughout the 1990s, I expanded my skill set, teaching myself digital design while freelancing, which set the stage for my transition into new media. In 2002, I became an artist-in-residence at the Diaspora Vibe Gallery in Miami, where I pioneered a unique style of digital-illustration-inspired acrylic paintings called 'digirealism.' These works received critical acclaim, were featured in press outlets, and were acquired by institutions such as the Swiss design firm 9.6 and the Miami-Dade Public Library.

 

My involvement in the arts expanded beyond the studio as I participated in international exhibitions and workshops across the Afro-Caribbean Diaspora, which also led to a role as a master artist and judge for YoungArts. My public art projects gained attention, with the “Best In Show” award for my 20-foot sculpture at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in 2010 and its installation at the Fort Myers International Airport in 2011.

 

In 2012, I self-published Rocko’s Big Launch, a children’s picture book that won 1st place in Writer's Digest’s self-published book award. As the director and resident curator at KROMA Art Space & Studios (2015-2017), I honed my leadership and administrative skills, managing exhibitions, curating spaces, and leading creative teams.

 

However, in 2016, my career took a transformative turn when I co-founded Eolian, a software prototyping company specializing in XR solutions for the department of defense and private sector. Here, I synthesized my diverse background—art, design, sculpture, digital media—into building immersive environments and innovative technologies. My experience in sculpture informs my 3D modeling for XR; my graphic design background guides user interface design, while my fine arts skills shape immersive lighting and environmental aesthetics. I’ve also utilized my curating experience to design functional and inspiring workspaces for our team.

 

In essence, my career has evolved from traditional arts to cutting-edge technology, allowing me to transcend physical space. Today, augmented reality and virtual reality are my new mediums, and immersive environments are my canvas. The combination of creative vision, technological innovation, and leadership is what drives my work at Eolian, and I am excited about continuing to push the boundaries of what art and technology can achieve.