FAMU student’s artwork featured during NBA All-Star weekend

By Andrew Skerritt
FAMU Office of Communications

FAMU senior graphic design student Elijah Rutland’s artwork was front and center during the NBA All-Star Game festivities in Atlanta this past weekend.

Rutland is one of seven students from Historically Black Colleges and University who displayed their custom artwork in the arena, at the players’ hotel, during the broadcast and across NBA social platforms before and during the game last Sunday. 

A taped performance by the FAMU Marching “100” Band was featured during the player introductions before the game begins. 

The seven students represented Howard University, Albany State University and FAMU. They created HBCU-inspired art with different themes. Five of the artists were invited as virtual fans for the game, while Rutland and another attended the game in person, according to the NBA.

Rutland is from Macon, Ga. He said he tried to capture the sports rivalries among HBCUs in his work.

“It’s a celebration of FAMU basketball history and HBCU basketball history,” he said. “There’s a big push to get students to go back to HBCUs. HBCUs are on the rise.”

Rutland’s selection is an outgrowth of work he has done in the last year. As a member of the Beats Black Creator program for HBCU students, he designed headphones last fall. Beats and the NBA have a partnership. During Sunday’s events, players conducted their on-court interviews wearing Beats custom headphones designed by Rutland. 

“The NBA found out I did the headphones, and they were looking for students to do the illustrations. It was perfect timing,” said Rutland, who is scheduled to graduate this fall. The opportunities he has received while attending the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication are unprecedented, he said. 

“It’s kind of surreal that I get to do work at this level and still be a student, and I get to represent FAMU,” he said. “That makes people proud. It’s something I really enjoy.”