In 2022, the Foundation awarded the Dr. Jessie Mae Colson Award to Mr. Shayne Herrera, a May 2022 honors graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, VA. Shayne Herrera is an oil painter based in Richmond, Virginia. His practice focuses mainly on uplighting the image of Black and brown bodies through modes of storytelling to bring light to the levels of preservation and resilience that exist within Black culture.
Herrera is originally from Warrenton, Virginia where he was raised primarily by Black maternal figures that influence his overall practice. He earned his BFA in Painting & Printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University in Spring of 2022. During his time at VCU he was President of a student-led organization called BASE (Black Art Student Empowerment). For three years he led the organization that presented events that included showcases and workshops. The mission of BASE is to nurture a confident community and create opportunities for Black artists. Under Herrera’s leadership BASE members conducted community engagements with Richmond Public Schools through classroom visits and supply drives. Herrera’s most recent award is the 2022 - 2023 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Professional Fellow.
