
FRESH PAINT: OKC NYE identifies creative and aspiring artists to prepare them to launch a career in making and commissioning public art murals. With the goal of diversity and representation of artists that are young, Black, Indigenous and people of color, four artists ages 18-25 were selected and paired with two established and accomplished mural artist mentors, Ebony Iman Dallas and Dylan Bradway.The mentors will assist the young artists in developing an 8’ by 8’ mural, including:
- Developing concepts and artist statements about the proposed work
- Developing material lists and quantities
- Preparation of the mural frames and surfaces for painting
- Applying the design to the surface and completing the mural
OKC NYE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD WINNER: Iliana Barrientos
Iliana Barrientos is a self-taught Hispanic/Latin artist born in Oklahoma City. Since the earliest stages of her life, she has explored her love and passion for art. Her early push allowed her to carry out her skills all throughout school. After graduating high school, she pursued a career as a tattoo artist which has allowed her to branch out to participate in mural events as well as live painting for community events.
THE FINALISTS
Destiny Elaine Davis
Destiny Elaine Davis is an emerging Oklahoma City artist. She pursued her art education at Nebraska’s McCook Community College while on a basketball scholarship. Davis excels at working with graphite and oil paints. She expresses black excellence throughout her pieces. Her oil paintings were featured in an art exhibition at the Wrightstone Fine Arts Building on the Mid-Plains Campus. As Davis acquires more knowledge of her craft, she is determined to become a full-time artist.

NyLainah Brewer

NyLainah Brewer is an Oklahoma native and 2021 graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma, where she received her BA in Fine Arts. Furthering her career, Brewer has exhibited works in galleries including Black Wall Street Gallery, Tulsa, and the Paseo Arts Gallery, Oklahoma City. Her artwork represents Black women being art: the perfect expression of pain, struggle, and resiliency while glorifying their inner beauty over outer projections. Post-graduation, Brewer is continuing her artistic career teaching at Heart Studios in Edmond, Oklahoma
Denae Smith
Denae Smith is an artist from Oklahoma City. Her medium is acrylic paint and she also uses other textural elements within her work. She is constantly looking for ways to improve her knowledge and skills so that she can reach her full potential as an artist. Her paintings show how she’s evolved as an individual as well as different phases of her life. As a college student studying health sciences in pre-nursing, Smith looks to the human body for much of her work as it resembles endless possibilities and the culture that evokes what art means to her.

MENTOR BIOS
Ebony Iman Dallas
Ebony Iman Dallas is a storyteller, painter, muralist and founder of Afrikanation Artists Organization. Inspired by travel and individual tales of resilience, Iman paints to encourage hope in others while amplifying voices through
Dylan Bradway
Dylan Bradway is a conceptual mural artist and is the Vice President for the Oklahoma Mural Syndicate. With over 16 murals displayed in the past seven years throughout Oklahoma City, Bradway is easily a changemaker within the mural space of our community.
Voting has concluded. Thank you.