Barry Brown Jr. Inspires Students to Show Up, Create, and Keep Going – Harnessing the Power of Vision

At the 14th annual Mosaic Event, nearly 500 West Michigan students filled Celebration Cinema North for an immersive day of creativity, storytelling, and career exploration in digital media and technology. This year’s theme, “The Power of Vision,” challenged students to imagine how bold ideas and creative direction can shape the future of media, entertainment, and technology. Among the featured speakers was Barry Brown Jr., an accomplished illustrator, concept artist, and member of 9B Collective, the first Black-owned concept art studio composed primarily of BIPOC artists. Barry’s creative journey has taken him from personal loss to working on blockbuster films and series, such as Wicked and Marvel’s What If… 

From Loss to Launch: A Story of Creative Vision and Perseverance

Barry shared a deeply personal story of how he found his path in the arts. After losing his mother at age 27, he made the courageous decision to pursue his dreams – packing up, moving to Los Angeles, and diving headfirst into the world of illustration and storytelling. With humor, vulnerability, and insight, Barry walked students through the ups and downs of building a creative career.

“The future belongs to the consistent,” he told the students. “Not the lucky, not the talented, but the ones who show up, even when it’s hard.

His journey was marked by pivotal moments, including an unexpected opportunity to work on Wicked and a chance encounter at Comic-Con that led to a collaboration on the Marvel series What If…?. Through it all, he reminded students that imposter syndrome is normal, and it’s okay to feel unsure – just don’t let that stop you from showing up. 

Teaching the Craft: Fundamentals That Fuel Creativity

In addition to sharing his career journey, Barry used the stage to walk students through foundational concepts of art and storytelling, including:

• Proportion and value: how light and shadow draw the viewer’s eye and create emotion.

• Composition and shape design: how tools like triangles, curves, and motifs guide visual storytelling.

• Color theory in animation: using complementary and harmonious color palettes to convey conflict and resolution, as shown in scenes from Spider-Verse.

• Studying the masters: learning from artists who came before and applying their techniques to modern creative work.

These lessons bridged the gap between classroom learning and professional creative careers, helping students see how the skills they develop now can lead to real-world opportunities.

Creating for Something Greater

Perhaps the most significant part of Barry’s talk was his passion for creating work that reflects his identity and values. While working with major studios is fulfilling, he emphasized the importance of developing personal projects and original ideas – stories that speak to who you are and what matters most to you.

“Love what you do, because it emanates through you and passes on to other people,” Barry said.

He encouraged students to always have ideas in their back pocket and to nurture them over time. Whether it’s writing novels, designing characters, or exploring new storytelling mediums, Barry has shown that a strong personal vision can lead to meaningful and impactful work.

The Power of Vision in Action

Barry Brown Jr.’s presentation captured the spirit of The Power of Vision, showing students that creativity, when fueled by consistency and purpose, can shape both careers and communities. Through his journey, from personal loss to working on major productions, he reminded students that success isn’t about luck or talent alone, but about showing up, learning from every step, and creating work that reflects who you are and what you believe.

Mosaic Film Experience is proud to empower underrepresented youth to explore emerging and creative careers through the power of storytelling. We are proud to highlight creatives like Barry Brown Jr., who are reshaping their industries through consistency, heart, and purpose. Thank you to Barry for sharing your powerful vision and to our educators, sponsors, and partners who made this year’s event possible.