Ernst & Young LLP works with local curation team to celebrate artists of color in new East End office space

Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) recently unveiled its new offices in the East End, and, today, ArtsNow is thrilled to celebrate its thoughtfully curated space with art from Akron-based Black creatives.

During the planning process, the EY US team connected with ArtsNow’s executive director, Nicole Mullet, with a clear vision of welcoming inclusion into its innovative space by highlighting local artists of color.

“When we were designing our new EY US office space, we had a vision of inclusive art and an intentional goal to elevate Black entrepreneurs in our community,” said Whitt Butler, EY Akron Managing Partner and US-Central Consulting Managing Partner. “We were able to achieve this through the connection of business and arts by collaborating with ArtsNow during the design process.”

Mullet called upon local mother-daughter artists April and Alexandria Couch and the owner of Hazel Tree Design Studio, Karen Starr — and the trio set the stage for the curation process.

“Art has a huge economic impact for the city, as the community recently recognized in the Cultural Plan. This is an excellent example of a business creating a celebratory and inclusive space for its team,” stated Mullet.

After thoughtful consideration, the following pieces of artwork were chosen; all were created by local artists:

● Alexandria Couch with “Embody” and “Encompass”

● April Couch with “Zentangle Platter” and “Zentangle Sculpture”

● Chris Harvey with “All America Bridge” and “I-76 East”

● Dara Harper with “What I Remember”

● Diane Johnson with “Genesis 2” and “Genesis 3”

● Christine Mauersberger with “Foam” and “Join”

● Jessica Skinner with 3-foot-by-3-foot wooden designs

● Antwoine Washington with “Peel Back the Layers”