Zion Richardson-Keys Finds Creative Freedom and Community in UMO’s Visual Arts & Design Program
January 9, 2025
Contact: Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations
MOUNT OLIVE, NC – Freshman art major Zion Richardson-Keys arrived at the University of Mount Olive with a clear goal to grow as an artist and to challenge himself in ways he had not yet experienced. The Chesterfield, Virginia native says UMO’s new Visual Arts and Design major has already transformed the way he thinks and the way he envisions his future in the field.
Richardson-Keys is part of a group of students pursuing a reimagined program which blends traditional fine arts with cutting edge digital design. What drew him to UMO was the promise of close personal instruction. “I was most attracted to the small class sizes which allow for more one on one with professors to help better critique work,” he shared. That individualized attention has helped him experiment more freely and break out of the idea that an artist must fit a specific style.
In the classroom he has discovered new artistic confidence. “My experience has helped me flow more freely and not feel restricted to one particular style of art.” he noted. One of the most significant areas of growth for him has been learning to push contrast in his work. “I’ve been less apprehensive to go darker or lighter, because it’ll make the drawing pop more.”
The program’s mix of traditional studio practices and digital tools has also expanded his creative vision. “It allows me to use my visual creative thinking and put it into digital style and vice versa,” he said, describing how seamlessly the two worlds now connect in his process.
One class project in particular made a lasting impact. Richardson-Keys points to his Spiritual Mandala assignment as the most meaningful experience so far. Students were asked to create a symbolic mandala reflecting their inner identity. “It made me think deep down about who I really am inside,” he said. The project helped deepen both his artistic and personal self-awareness.
Beyond structured assignments, UMO emphasizes hands-on learning through collaborative studio spaces peer critiques and public showcases. For Richardson-Keys those opportunities have been invaluable. They allow him to work alongside peers he describes as unique in their approaches while maintaining professionalism and respect. “Collaborating with other amazing artists has helped me gain new skills and learn from others while working on my craft,” he said.
Richardson-Keys credits his lifelong exposure to art for his early discipline. His father, a well-known artist in their Virginia community, played a pivotal role. “Growing up I was always around art,” he said. “My dad and the community helped shape who I’ve wanted to be as an artist.”
As he continues to navigate the expectations of college level studio work, Richardson-Keys finds the challenges motivating especially as he prepares for a career in the creative industry. His long-term goal is to start his own graphic design firm to help young adults like himself get an early kick start into their careers. “The program,” he said “is giving me both the artistic training and professional mindset needed to get there.”
Above all, Richardson-Keys hopes viewers of his work feel the emotion and intention poured into each piece. “When someone encounters my work, I want them to feel and understand the emotions and color that are being poured out onto the paper or canvas,” he said.
With his talent and the support of UMO’s Visual Arts and Design faculty, Richardson-Keys is quickly defining himself as a standout young artist and a powerful example of what the program aims to nurture…creative confidence, versatility, and the courage to express something deeply personal.
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
