Thanks to Nakeya Brown, CCAS MFA '17, and Larry W. Cook, CCAS MFA '13, for sharing their story!
Our commitment to our photography practices led to our paths crossing. Larry and I first encountered each other in a professional practice course I was enrolled in. My professor selected him to be a guest speaker for the class, which focused on strengthening professional habits of artists. Larry and I kept in touch afterwards and would catch up at art openings on and off campus.
One summer evening, Larry and I ran into each other at Hamiltonian Gallery on U Street [in Washington, D.C.]. He invited me to his opening reception in Baltimore, which was taking place the next day. I accepted. After the reception ended we went out for dinner at Brew House No. 16, and that would be the first of many dates. Larry and I were inseparable!
[caption id="attachment_14887" align="alignright" width="300"] The couple in Martha’s Vineyard during an artist residency.[/caption]
On International Women’s Day the following year he proposed, and two months later - on my graduation day - family and close friends celebrated our marriage.
We are now settled outside of D.C., raising our family. Larry is a professor at Howard University and I teach in Montgomery County. Larry and I walked away from GW with more than degrees - we walked away with eternal love for one another. We wouldn’t trade that for the world.
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Nakeya and Larry are both accomplished artists. One of Nakeya’s pieces was featured on season one of the HBO series “Insecure,” produced by Issa Rae. Larry is a former Hamiltonian Artist and has two forthcoming solo exhibitions in Michigan and Maryland. To learn more, visit their websites:
Nakeya Brown