Our Board Members
Charlie T. Johnson
MLK Exhibition Coordinator
Charlie T. Johnson, Jr., a native of New Orleans, is an artist, art educator, and art advocate who enjoys working in many art mediums, but painting is his primary focus. His artwork has been exhibited in the United States, Africa, Europe, and Canada. Although he prefers realistic portraits, social realistic painting, and photography, Charlie experiments with abstract and mixed media paintings inspired by the exquisite colors and designs he observed while touring Africa. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education while attending Southern University at New Orleans and a Master of Fine Arts in painting and printmaking from the University of New Orleans. He again is attending the University of New Orleans in the graduate Urban Studies Department. Charlie recently retired as a professor at Southern University at New Orleans College of Education. He is a life member of the National Conference of Artists and has coordinated 25 Annual NCA Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Exhibitions. `Charlie curated exhibits of South African and Haitian art at the New Orleans Convention Center and numerous national and local exhibits.
Louise M. Johnson
Louise Mouton Johnson, visual artist, and arts educator was born and educated in New Orleans, Louisiana. After graduating from Xavier in 1976 with a BFA degree, she went to Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, and earned her MFA in 1980 specializing in printmaking. She taught visual arts in the New Orleans public school system for 33 years,14 of which were spent at NOCCA, while at the same time continuing to practice professionally, exhibiting, and selling her prints, drawings, and quilts. In the spring of 2018, Johnson was selected as an Artist-in-Residence at the Joan Mitchell Center, where she was able to use the time and assigned studio space to plan and complete a body of artwork, including a major collaborative mixed-media commission.
Richard V. Keller Sr.
Richard V. Keller Sr. is a retired Tulane University support services supervisor and, after 25 years, he devotes much time to photographing cultural events in New Orleans. He has a mission to document cultural activities that take place in the streets of New Orleans like Jazz Bands, second-line marching clubs, and Mardi Gras Indians. Richard followed in his father’s footsteps and became a member of the New Orleans Buffalo Soldiers organization. To honor African American soldiers and servicemen, Richard coordinates events that recognize the Buffalo Soldiers. He is a member of the National Conference of Artists, New Orleans Chapter (NCANO) and offers his expertise with media relations and planning to both the NCANO and the New Orleans Martin Luther King Jr. Exhibition Council.
Ashley Hillard
Ashley Hillard an emergency medicine Physician Assistant and visual artist was born and raised in New Orleans,LA. She attended NOCCA for visual arts and graduated from St. John’s University in Physician Assistant studies. As a health practitioner, Ashley focuses on integrating the arts for optimum health. She has 13 years of emergency medicine experience and enjoys working in many mediums,but ceramics and painting are her primary focus.
Larry Ra
Larry Ra, AKA Brother Larry, is a New Orleans artist that specializes in video editing and logo design, but is primarily known for is acrylic painting. He has worked on a collection of paintings that provide a narrative of the African American experience. In 2018, he began a mission of creating artwork that would compel the people into greater consciousness; art that is not only aesthetically appealing, but also provokes conversations that are necessary for our personal and collective growth.
Angel Omoike
Angel Omoike is a talented Acrylic & Mixed Media portrait painter and visual storyteller whose artistic journey spans over 15 years. Originally from Baton Rouge, she has called New Orleans home for the past decade, drawing inspiration from the stories and experiences of individuals within the African diaspora. Her creative process begins with a single idea that evolves organically, as she uses mediums like Acrylic and oil paint, charcoal, fabric, graphite, and ink to craft her Pieces.
As a dedicated Talented Art Instructor for nearly a decade, Angel has not only led students in creating murals but also actively encouraged young artists through art workshops and group exhibitions. Her work has been featured in annual events such as the MLK Exhibitions and “The Art of the Black Experience,” and she has been published in the NCA MLK catalogs. Her printshave even found a home in the Whitney Plantation Shop. Currently, she is organizing a student exhibition at the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum. An alumna of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Angel’s artistic influence has been recognized by The Gentilly Messenger in a 2021 feature. She also serves on the MLK Exhibition Council and the WIFT Louisiana board, enriching her community through her art and leadership.
Kennedy Sarrazin
Kennedy Sarrazin is a 23-year old artist who has been painting and drawing since she was able to hold a brush in her hand. Growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana she is constantly inspired by New Orleans’ food, culture, and originality.
Kennedy Sarrazin attended Saint Mary’s Dominican High School and later graduated with her Bachelor of Arts from Spring Hill College (Mobile, AL). She is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Museum Studies at the Southern University at New Orleans. Her aspirations include having her own art gallery and curating several museums around the world.
Kennedy Sarrazin describes her work as, “a reflection of her tasteful energy, creating glamorous imagery.”
Immersed in a city full of flavor, Kennedy is inspired to bring her favorite hometown experiences and elements to life through paint and sparkling embellishments.
Jeffery J. Ambrose Jr.
Dr. Jeffery Ambrose, a native of New Orleans, is a scientist and community advocate dedicated to Science Technology Engineering Art and Mathematic(STEAM) education, civic engagement and cultural preservation of the city’s deep civil rights history. He received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Southern University at New Orleans and went on to earn his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University. Dr. Ambrose serves on the City of New Orleans MLK Holiday Planning Commission, where he works to honor the city’s legacy in the civil rights movement.
Dr. Ambrose enjoys creating art in various forms, including anime-style comic characters, graphic design, and digital art, and he has a passion for Black art that highlights New Orleans’ vibrant culture. Through his community activism, he seeks to connect diverse art forms with the city’s rich civil rights legacy, using art to inspire and educate future generations.