Julia Bautz is a senior at Saint Louis University studying Studio Art and International Studies. She currently works in the Ceramics Studio at SLU. Two summers ago, she completed an internship with an architecture firm in Potsdam, Germany. As part of her undergraduate career at SLU, she spent two and a half years studying in Madrid, Spain. While in Spain, she helped start a community garden club, advised students on their essays, and taught ESL to Spanish adults. Julia is an artist working primarily in oil paint and ceramics. As a child of an immigrant and a Jewish woman, she is excited to work with the Gyo Obata Fellowship because of their commitment to raising the voices of people from diverse perspectives and backgrounds. She hopes that she can bring her experiences as a global citizen and as an artist to the work of the Fellowship.

Journee Alexander Bond is a recent Saint Louis University graduate with a Bachelors of Arts & Sciences in Psychology. He is a member of Psi Chi Honors Society and a former Choir and Theatre student for over four years. The mission of the Gyo Obata Fellowship resonates with him because he knows what it’s like to not see yourself represented in leadership, especially in the arts and nonprofit spaces. As a young Black man, he is passionate about building community and making sure people from all backgrounds feel seen and heard. This fellowship aligns with his goals to help shift the narrative, open doors for others, and be part of creating more inclusive leadership in the arts.

Maya Dabney is a Studio Art and Mathematics major at Washington University in St. Louis, Class of 2027, and an Ervin Scholar. Her connection to the arts is grounded in the belief that art can serve as forms of preservation, resistance, and care—especially for stories that have been historically overlooked. Through experiences like developing art for the University City Public Art Series and collaborating on peer-led initiatives with WashU’s Art Council, she’s become increasingly interested in how artists and institutions shape public engagement. The Gyo Obata Fellowship resonates with her desire to explore how arts administration can make those relationships more equitable and how institutions can better support both artists and the communities they serve.

Jasmine Gage is a senior at McKendree University, pursuing a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. Throughout her time at McKendree, she is actively engaged in the university's literary club, serving as co-president of the Literary Interest Society. Jasmine has also published short stories and poetry in Catalyst, McKendree’s undergraduate art and literature magazine, and contributed as an editor for the magazine for two years. In recognition of her academic excellence, she earned a spot on the Dean's List for two semesters and the President's List for one semester, as well as achieved the Honors scholarship, and is looking forward to being inducted into Sigma Tau Delta, McKendree’s English Honors Society. Jasmine's passion for the arts is deeply rooted in her experience as a consistent editor for Catalyst, which not only allowed her to showcase her own creative work but also provided a platform for fellow students to share their artistic endeavors.

Temilolu Ijisesan is a rising senior at Washington University in St. Louis, pursuing a BFA in Communication Design with minors in Art History and Human-Computer Interaction. She currently serves as Co-Creative Director of RIZE Magazine, WashU’s independent Black creative publication, and is a proud recipient of the John B. Ervin Scholarship. She is also the founder and director of Expression Art Camps, an initiative that empowers youth around the world with the resources and mentorship to explore and deepen their artistic practice. The mission of the Gyo Obata fellowship resonated with Temilolu because of her passion for art education and expanding access to the arts, particularly within communities across the African Diaspora. As a Fellow, she is excited to support programming that uplifts visual artists and strengthens arts education throughout the St. Louis region.

Robin Kincaid is a senior at Truman State University majoring in studio art and creative writing. They are a nationally exhibited interdisciplinary artist and writer, and particularly interested in painting, drawing, fibers, and experimental comics. Additionally, they are an experienced student worker at the Truman State University Art Gallery. In summer 2024, they were awarded a TruScholars grant to explore how watercolor painting, transparent fabrics, and handmade felt can articulate their lived experience as a trans non-binary person. Robin is drawn to the arts as a way to build human connection through authentic, unrestricted expression, particularly when it comes to gender and identity. This summer, they are excited to share their perspective and learn about how to make arts and arts administration more welcoming to trans and queer people in the work they do as a Gyo Obata Fellow.

Priscilla Lee is a junior at Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in Studio Art and minoring in Business and Human-Computer Interaction. The arts have always been a part of her life, from volunteering with the elderly to creating as a practicing artist and photographing for various fashion editorials. As someone deeply involved in the arts, she is eager to expand her understanding of arts administration. While she is familiar with the creative side as a practicing artist, she wants to further develop her skills to advocate for and promote the arts in diverse communities. The fellowship’s commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion strongly aligns with her dedication to making the arts more accessible and uplifting underrepresented voices.

Ellisa “Ellie” Palacios is a junior at Webster University studying Interdisciplinary Arts with an emphasis in Musical Theatre and a second emphasis in Strategic Communication Strategies. Before Webster, Ellie attended Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan, where she majored in Musical Theatre and performed in roles such as Nina in In the Heights and Jo March in You on the Moors Now. She graduated from Interlochen with High Honors with Distinction, all four semesters. Ellie has won several awards, including Outstanding Vocalist at the Disney Saratoga Springs Festival, where she competed with her high school show choir group. In 2020, she was awarded the Texas Young Master for Musical Theatre. This award recognized her out of the entire state of Texas as a top Musical Theatre performer at her age. Through the Texas Cultural Trust, this award granted her a ten-thousand dollar scholarship to attend any summer musical theatre intensive she chose for two consecutive summers.

Lear Rose is a 2025 Gyo Obata Fellow and seeks to foster safe and accessible spaces in the Arts. They are a rising senior at St. Louis University (SLU) studying nonprofit administration and art history with a minor in marketing. An Amber Johnson Humanized Equity award recipient, Lear believes in the power of the arts to create social good, a conviction shaped by their involvement in civic-focused arts projects, identity, and public policy work around educational and Healthcare access in Missouri. With a tenacity to learn and create change, Lear has worked with local leaders in the arts and culture sector, such as the Contemporary Art Museum as an educator and the Saint Louis Art Museum as an accessibility consultant. Through the Gyo Obata Fellowship, they will continue their commitment to grow in courage and civic leadership in the hopes of a kinder and more equitable arts community.

Brittaney Davis is a senior at Webster University, majoring in Ceramics with a minor in Psychology and a certificate in expressive arts therapy. As a single mother of two wonderful children, she is excited about the chance to engage with the Gyo Obata Fellowship and the possibilities it holds for both personal and professional growth.