Launched in Winter 2023, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s semester-based Artist-in-Residence student position takes a creative and innovative perspective from our community and incorporates it into our DEI work.
Below are the works by Ella Moxon, the Winter 2024 Artist-in-Residence, U-M Stamps School of Art and Design Class of ’26.
“With one in four adults in the U.S. living with disabilities, this month is an opportunity to honor the history, achievements, challenges and experiences of these individuals. In this graphic, I worked to portray a variety of disabilities, knowing that each person experiences them differently. However, despite their variety of experiences, everyone walks along the same path. This idea of solidarity and connection inspired and was integral to this piece.”
— Ella Moxon
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’26
“Eid Mubarak! Eid-al-Adha, one of the two main Islamic holidays, lasts for four days during Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Eid-al-Adha is traditionally celebrated with the sacrifice of an animal— a lamb, a goat and a camel are three of the most common. The number three is significant for this holiday as a third of the meat is eaten by the family who sacrificed the animal, a third is eaten by friends and extended family, and a third is shared with those less fortunate. The crescent moon is a reminder that the date of Islamic holidays are dictated by the moon.”
— Ella Moxon
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’26
“Happy Pride! June is Pride Month, which celebrates the queer community and their accomplishments. The queer community is such a vast, complex, and diverse group of people that it would be impossible to explore every facet of this incredible group of people in just one graphic. But as a queer woman myself, I felt it was important to portray queer people as every race, gender, and age, in addition to acknowledging Pride’s origins as a protest against oppression, and its continued use as a tool to amplify queer people’s voices against injustice.”
— Ella Moxon
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’26
“May celebrates the extensive history, culture and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Since this region includes such an expansive number of diverse cultures, I included the lotus flower, which holds significance in many Central and East Asian cultures and religions, as a way to connect these figures in the AAPI community.
Important AAPI figures, both historical and contemporary, who have made lasting changes in American society, clockwise starting at the top:
— Ella Moxon
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’26
“Happy Passover! To mark the beginning of this major Jewish holiday, this drawing depicts the celebration of the Passover Seder—the ritual feast that kicks off Passover. Several traditional staples of the meal are being shared at the table, such as karpas or bitter herbs, unleavened bread called matzah, brisket, hard boiled eggs, candied carrots, matzah balls, and the four cups of wine that are consumed at different stages throughout the meal. But the most important aspect of the seder that I hope to convey is the connection between the people that share it and the mutual faith and history that they celebrate together.”
— Ella Moxon
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’26
“This month, we celebrate and recognize the autistic members in our society. Those with autism spectrum disorder transcend race, gender, and age. The clasping of hands symbolizes the shared obstacles and struggles those on the ASD spectrum face in society, and the solidarity found within the autistic community. I also wanted to include the rainbow infinity symbol in my work, which is an emblem recently adopted by the autistic community representing the community’s diversity, infinite variations, and infinite possibilities.”
— Ella Moxon
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’26
“Happy Easter! Today commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the Christian religion. As church pews fill with those observing this day, I decided to integrate stained glass imagery, a historical artistic practice found in many Christian churches around the world. From there, I added traditional symbols of Easter, like the empty cross, which signifies Jesus’ resurrection, white doves representing purity and salvation, and Easter lilies, which symbolize spring and this special holiday. I chose to surround the cross with light in order to evoke the feelings of hope and light that linger on this sacred day.”
— Ella Moxon
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’26
“Happy Holi! Holi is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated at the beginning of spring commemorating the divine love of Radha and Krishna in addition to the triumph of good over evil. The most widely celebrated tradition of the festival is ‘playing Holi,’ or throwing dyed powders in the street. I referenced the powders’ vibrant colors to display the joyous, playful atmosphere of the festival, while portraying one big community, mingling and celebrating together, and letting past resentments go.”
— Ella Moxon
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’26
“Ramadan Mubarak! Ramadan is a sacred month observed in Islam during which practitioners fast from dawn to sunset. The timing and duration of Ramadan is decided by the moon and goes from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next. I decided to depict iftar–the breaking of the daylong fast at dusk—which is typically celebrated by eating a big meal. Ramadan is also about charity and community, which is why the iftar meal is eaten with friends, family and neighbors. My goal with this drawing is to illustrate that unique feeling of community and celebration that comes with this holy month.”
— Ella Moxon
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’26
“Happy Women’s History Month! This month, we celebrate women past, present, and future in all that we do and all that we are. While creating this graphic, I decided to feature the diversity, beautiful variety, and unifying potential of all women. We are doctors, we are CEOs, we are artists, we are pilots, and we can be anything. Throughout March, we celebrate not only women’s accomplishments and history, but also the joy and community we can find together.”
— Ella Moxon
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’26
“Happy New Year! 2024 is the year of the Dragon, the fifth rotation within the 12-year cycle in the Chinese zodiac. According to legend, a race determined the order of the animals in the cycle. The dragon was thought to be the clear winner due to its high flying ability and raw power; however, it was detoured to save a burning village and eventually kindly gave the rabbit a gust of wind in order to get it to shore, causing the dragon to finish in fifth place behind the rabbit. This story conveys the true meaning behind the year of the dragon, that power is to be used to help others. I kept the story of the dragon in mind when drawing this graphic, depicting the dragon flying high in the sky toward the finish line with the moon behind it.”
— Ella Moxon
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’26
“To honor the contributions of African American artists, I decided to imitate the distinct abstract style of Harlem muralist Aaron Douglas, specifically his mural “Aspects of Negro Life: From Slavery to Reconstruction.” Douglas’s style often included multiple layers of overlapping paint to show light and form, which I felt would suit the graphic nicely. In Douglas’s style, I chose to depict silhouettes of iconic African American activists and artists, including civil rights leader Malcom X, musician and trumpeter Louis Armstrong, jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, novelist Tori Morrison, performer and movie star Bill Robinson, political philosopher and leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and abolitionist Harriet Tubman. I chose political activist and philosopher Angela Davis as the center of the piece in celebration of her 80th year of tirelessly advocating for Black liberation.”
— Ella Moxon
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’26
Below are the works by Rin Sharpe, the Fall 2023 Artist-in-Residence, U-M Stamps School of Art and Design Class of ’25.
“For Kwanzaa, I wanted to emphasize the candle-lighting ceremony. The black candle, which represents Umoja (Unity), is lit in the center, and I hoped to draw attention to it by showcasing an African American community behind the candles.”
— Rin Sharpe
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’25
“When it comes to Christmas, I think back to when I was a kid and my parents would read me a story the night before Christmas about Santa and how he delivers gifts to all the children of the world. I hope to capture the excitement I feel within my own drawing.”
— Rin Sharpe
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’25
“For my Hanukkah illustration, I wanted to really emphasize the importance of the menorah and how it brings light during the shortest and darkest days of winter. I also wanted to highlight the importance of the ninth candle, which is used to light the others, and how it brings light and warmth to all those around it.”
— Rin Sharpe
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’25
“I wanted to incorporate a variety of disabilities to showcase that a disability can take form in many different ways and sometimes, not every disability is visible. In addition, I wanted to find a way to incorporate ASL into my design. In the end, I thought of using the ASL alphabet in order to spell out “Michigan,” which aligns right next to the character with hearing aids. Overall, I hope my variety of colors and characters can showcase a wide variety of people out there.”
— Rin Sharpe
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’25
“For most of my life, Thanksgiving has been a time when family can get together for one day to sit down and cook and eat a meal together. Since I have moved to college, Thanksgiving now has become a place where I can catch up not (only) with my family but with my friends as well.”
— Rin Sharpe
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’25
“Diwali is such a rich holiday filled with all kinds of traditions and culture. Since Diwali is also known as the ‘Festival of Lights’ and celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and the human ability to overcome, I wanted to really emphasize that light within my own illustration.”
— Rin Sharpe
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’25
“For this illustration, celebrating Native American Heritage Month, I looked into different traditions and celebrations within Native American communities. Through research, I discovered a traditional dance known as powwow. Powwows are gatherings held by many Native American communities. They’re an opportunity for many indigenous people to socialize, dance, sing, and honor their culture. Here is an illustration of a girl dressed in traditional regalia, known as a fancy shawl, dancing at the powwow.”
— Rin Sharpe
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’25
“When it came to creating a graphic for National Hispanic Heritage Month, I honestly was at a bit of a loss on how I wanted to go about it. Given that Hispanic culture encompasses many countries and places of origin, it was really hard to narrow down what and how I wanted to illustrate for the celebration. I ended up creating an illustration that had a focus on family, food, and the many generations that can fit within a family.”
— Rin Sharpe
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’25
“When it came to creating a graphic for the Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashanah, I wanted to incorporate every tradition and symbol that surrounds the holiday such as the shofar. I ended up narrowing my focus towards the holiday’s emphasis of a ‘Sweet New Year’ and the tradition of eating apples and honey.”
— Rin Sharpe
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’25
Below are the works by Grace Benjamin, the Winter 2023 Artist-in-Residence, U-M Stamps School of Art and Design Class of ’23.
“Disability Pride month provides an opportunity to shed light on the unique experiences of individuals with disabilities. With this graphic, I aim to inspire empathy, foster understanding, and promote inclusivity.”
— Grace Benjamin
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’23
“This graphic is a visual tribute to the vibrant, diverse, and resilient LGBTQ+ community. Through this illustration, I hope to show that we can create a more compassionate world for us all through inclusion and embracing diversity.”
— Grace Benjamin
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’23
“This graphic was created to celebrate the rich history and culture of Jewish Americans.”
— Grace Benjamin
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’23
“Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrates the rich and diverse cultures of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, highlighting their unique histories and contributions to American society.”
— Grace Benjamin
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’23
“Through color and imagery, I aim to convey the complexity and diversity of the autism spectrum. With this piece, I hope to bring awareness to the unique and varied experiences of individuals on the autism spectrum.”
— Grace Benjamin
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’23
“My illustration for Eid al-Fitr celebrates the joy and beauty of this important holiday in the Islamic faith. Through the use of light and symbolism, I aim to capture the sense of festivity and celebration that characterizes Eid al-Fitr.”
— Grace Benjamin
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’23
“Through this illustration, I aimed to capture the essence of hope and renewal that this holiday brings to Christians around the world by using important symbolism to depict the resurrection.”
— Grace Benjamin
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’23
“This illustration was created in celebration of one of the most important holidays in the Jewish calendar by incorporating symbolism that commemorates the liberation of Jewish people from slavery in ancient Egypt.”
— Grace Benjamin
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’23
“By utilizing intricate geometric patterns, this graphic was created to honor the vibrant traditions, art, and history included in Arab culture.”
— Grace Benjamin
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’23
“Utilizing the vibrant colors included in the transgender flag, I created this illustration to highlight the importance of transgender visibility, and the importance of supporting and uplifting transgender voices.”
— Grace Benjamin
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’23
“In this graphic, I sought to capture the beauty of this sacred month through a vibrant composition. At the center of the piece is a glowing crescent moon, symbolizing the start of Ramadan and the hope and renewal it brings.”
— Grace Benjamin
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’23
“In this graphic, I created a collage of silhouettes with illustrations of historic women encompassing a globe. This piece was made to celebrate the remarkable achievements of women around the world, past and present, who have shattered barriers, fought for equality, and inspired generations.”
— Grace Benjamin
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’23
“In this graphic, I used bold colors to capture the essence of Holi and provide a visual representation of the joy and happiness that this holiday brings to those who celebrate.”
— Grace Benjamin
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’23
“This graphic was made to pay homage to the incredible women who have shaped our world through their vision, bravery, and perseverance.”
— Grace Benjamin
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’23
“In this piece, I created a collage of colorblocked and textured illustrations of notable black figures in order to highlight and celebrate the accomplishments, courage, and activism of Black Americans throughout history.”
— Grace Benjamin
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’23
“This piece incorporates traditional East Asian patterns and symbols with my own personal artistic style in order to honor and commemorate the beginning of this year’s lunar calendar and all those who celebrate.”
— Grace Benjamin
ODEI Artist-in-Residence
Stamps School of Art and Design ’23
