Uploaded February 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
During Black History Month 2022, Flower City Arts Center will be dedicated to featuring black artists, makers, and historic figures to showcase and amplify their narratives. Our purpose is not only to inform and celebrate these individuals, but to hopefully inspire and drive forward change in our community and beyond.
We were honored to be able to interview important area watercolor artist, professor at RIT, and gallery owner Luvon Sheppard for our first feature. This will be a three-part video series. In this part, Luvon tells us where the name of "Joy Gallery" came from, as well as his perspective on the importance of having access to art learning for young, impressionable students - especially those in our Rochester, NY community.
Be sure to visit Joy Gallery at 498 1/2 W Main Street in Rochester, NY. The gallery is open every Saturday from 10AM-2PM.
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LUVON SHEPPARD FULL BIO:
A resident of Rochester since he was five years old, Sheppard received his bachelor's and master's degrees at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where he is a full professor in the School of Art and Design. Luvon has also taught at SUNY Brockport and Geneseo Universities.
Sheppard's paintings reflect his involvement in Rochester community life. He is known for his watercolor street scenes and portraits of local African-American heroes, including abolitionist Frederick Douglass, choreographer and dancer Garth Fagan, and community activist Mildred Johnson.
His work is in the permanent collections of the Memorial Art Gallery, the City of Rochester, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the University of Seoul, S. Korea, The Henrietta School District, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester Savings Bank, Garth Fagan Dance, and many other institutions.
Luvon Sheppard has always played an active leadership role in the Rochester arts community. In 1970, Sheppard became the Memorial Art Gallery's first neighborhood affairs coordinator. He also was instrumental in the creation of the Allofus Workshop, a groundbreaking organization created to provide community art classes. Over the years, Luvon has received many awards and has made numerous appearances on local television stations. For over 35 years he has lectured throughout the greater Rochester area and serves on several committees and boards.
Follow Luvon Sheppard and the Joy Gallery:
instagram.com/luvonsheppardart
facebook.com/luvonsheppardart
Follow us on social:
instagram.com/flowercityarts
facebook.com/FlowerCityArts
twitter.com/FlowerCityArts
linkedin.com/company/flowercityarts
Royalty-free music:
Sunset (Prod. by Lukrembo)
soundcloud.com/lukrembo/sunset
Filmed by: Rashaad Parker
Edited by: Simona Benenati
During Black History Month 2022, Flower City Arts Center will be dedicated to featuring black artists, makers, and historic figures to showcase and amplify their narratives. Our purpose is not only to inform and celebrate these individuals, but to hopefully inspire and drive forward change in our community and beyond.
We were honored to be able to interview important area watercolor artist, professor at RIT, and gallery owner Luvon Sheppard for our first feature. This will be a three-part video series. In this part, Luvon tells us where the name of "Joy Gallery" came from, as well as his perspective on the importance of having access to art learning for young, impressionable students - especially those in our Rochester, NY community.
Be sure to visit Joy Gallery at 498 1/2 W Main Street in Rochester, NY. The gallery is open every Saturday from 10AM-2PM.
---
LUVON SHEPPARD FULL BIO:
A resident of Rochester since he was five years old, Sheppard received his bachelor's and master's degrees at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where he is a full professor in the School of Art and Design. Luvon has also taught at SUNY Brockport and Geneseo Universities.
Sheppard's paintings reflect his involvement in Rochester community life. He is known for his watercolor street scenes and portraits of local African-American heroes, including abolitionist Frederick Douglass, choreographer and dancer Garth Fagan, and community activist Mildred Johnson.
His work is in the permanent collections of the Memorial Art Gallery, the City of Rochester, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the University of Seoul, S. Korea, The Henrietta School District, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester Savings Bank, Garth Fagan Dance, and many other institutions.
Luvon Sheppard has always played an active leadership role in the Rochester arts community. In 1970, Sheppard became the Memorial Art Gallery's first neighborhood affairs coordinator. He also was instrumental in the creation of the Allofus Workshop, a groundbreaking organization created to provide community art classes. Over the years, Luvon has received many awards and has made numerous appearances on local television stations. For over 35 years he has lectured throughout the greater Rochester area and serves on several committees and boards.
Follow Luvon Sheppard and the Joy Gallery:
instagram.com/luvonsheppardart
facebook.com/luvonsheppardart
Follow us on social:
instagram.com/flowercityarts
facebook.com/FlowerCityArts
twitter.com/FlowerCityArts
linkedin.com/company/flowercityarts
Royalty-free music:
Sunset (Prod. by Lukrembo)
soundcloud.com/lukrembo/sunset
Filmed by: Rashaad Parker
Edited by: Simona Benenati
