LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A renowned artist is paying it forward with a $1 million donation to the University of Louisville. It’ll help fund scholarships in memory of Breonna Taylor.
What You Need To Know
Donation was made in the memory of Breonna Taylor
Will fund scholarships and fellowships for law students
- It was announced during the inaugural event at the UofL law school’s Breonna Taylor Lecture on Structural Inequality
- Funds will be available next year
Donation was made in the memory of Breonna Taylor
Will fund scholarships and fellowships for law students
Artist Amy Sherald designed a portrait of Breonna Taylor, which was featured on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine in 2020. That painting has now been purchased and all the proceeds will go toward scholarships and fellowships for future law students “who show a commitment to social justice.”
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The announcement was made during the university’s inaugural Breonna Taylor Lecture on Structural Inequality.
“Being able to provide someone with the academic readiness without them worrying about the financial side of things is extremely important and valuable, so I am just honored that we have this and (it’s) really significant to the work that the University of Louisville is doing, ’’ said Dr. Douglas Craddock, the university’s interim VP of community engagement.
Breonna Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, was among those in attendance for Sunday’s event.
“To have her want to use her platform and her art to do this thing to honor Breonna was just amazing. How could you ever… a million things couldn’t be enough but, it was an honor,” Palmer said. ”I’ve said a hundred times that I always knew she would be great, and this is an example of that. I am honored and proud to say that I was her mom.”
The Breonna Taylor Legacy Scholarship and Fellowship will be open to law students pursuing their undergraduate beginning in the summer 2023 semester.
Dr. Craddock describes education as liberating and believes this donation to the university will have a significant impact and honor the life of Breonna Taylor.
“When you think about the legacy and what that does for people that are interested in and have a passion for social justice, it begins to move the needle and shift the narrative into what we can do to what we are doing,” Dr. Craddock said.
It’s that change which will now be possible thanks to an artist who chose action over profit.
“Her name is her legacy. And saying her name just not for Breonna Taylor’s legacy but the many Black women that have faced police brutality or have died at the hands of violence within the United States and today in America,” Dr. Craddock said.
The portrait of Taylor was purchased by the Speed Art Museum and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
While the artwork is currently on display in Washington, it’s expected to be displayed at the Speed Art Museum in the spring of 2023.