2026 Black History Month Art Contest Judges
Michelle Boyd
Michelle Boyd is a Detroit‑born painter who loves capturing the stories, emotions, and everyday moments that shape African American life. Now living in Stone Mountain, Georgia, she studied art at the University of Michigan, where classes in color, light, and acrylic painting helped her discover the power of visual storytelling.
Michelle works mainly with acrylics, using bold color and expressive shapes to bring her ideas to life. She’s inspired by artists like Annie Lee, Jacob Lawrence, Beverly King, Picasso, and Jean‑Michel Basquiat—creators who weren’t afraid to experiment, take risks, and speak through their art.
Her paintings have been featured at festivals including the River Front Art Festival in Detroit, the Pine Lake Art Festival in Georgia, and the Suwanee Art Festival. No matter where her work is shown, Michelle hopes it does three things: sparks curiosity, inspires confidence, and encourages young artists to see their own experiences as worthy of being painted, shared, and celebrated.
Tracey D. Johnson-Spence
Tracey D. Johnson-Spence is a creative entrepreneur and entertainment industry professional whose career bridges corporate leadership, fashion and tv/film. A former All-Delco athlete and 3rd Place winner of Ms. Teenage Pennsylvania, she earned her degree in Information Systems Management from Johnson & Wales University before building corporate experiences across global distribution, international finance and the nonprofit sectors.
Signed nationally with Model and Talent Management (MTM) and locally with The Lyngale Agency (TLA), Tracey has appeared in major motion pictures, most recently including Tyler Perry’s "Beauty in Black", and has been featured in Iconique Magazine and as the 2026 Cover Model for GBMG Magazine.
Certified as a Professional Make-Up Artist and Wardrobe Stylist, her credits include The Probe, Shiva, and costuming contributions to productions such as The Walking Dead.
She is the founder of Polished Images International, a boutique agency specializing in talent development, image consulting and production support across makeup, wardrobe and casting. The company bridges professionalism, preparation and polished presentation—allowing Tracey to continue building a multifaceted career that merges beauty, branding and production at the highest level.
Judge 3
Judge 3