Brandon James Scott is a public artist and art educator living and working in Memphis Tennessee. Scott is originally from Tallahassee, FL, but was raised in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale where he attended art immersion schools from grades three through high school. Throughout high school Scott worked as a junior art instructor at Young At Art Children Museum doing outreaches, tours and art classes. Scott graduated high school from Dillard School of Arts, where his art teachers mentored and prepared him for art college thoroughly. 

 

Scott obtained a Bachelors in Fine Arts from Memphis College of Art and a Masters in Art Therapy from New York University. In 2004 after graduating Scott moved to Brooklyn, NY where he worked as a graphic designer doing rebranding and design in Manhattan's financial district for four years. In 2008 Scott left design and opened a tattoo shop in Brooklyn that he owned and operated for four years. In 2013 Scott began working in New York City Schools. He found his passion with teaching and worked as an art teacher and content leader for six years in Brooklyn, NY. Through teaching Scott developed an interest in the social emotional development of children and entered the Art Therapy program at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education. And Human Development. At NYU Scott was awarded the Century 21 scholarship. At NYU Scott had the opportunity to attend the summer semester in Florence Italy where he worked at a parish running a summer camp with three cohorts. After graduating Scott returned to Memphis in 2021. 

 

He currently works as an art educator and public artist and is currently attending University of Memphis for a masters in teaching. In 2024 Scott was awarded the Urban Art Commission’s New Public Artist Fellowship in partnership with the University of Memphis and the Tennessee Art Commission. The award included the installation of a sculpture that would remain on campus for a year. Scott designed a resin and cement bust honoring Miriam DeCosta the first black professor at the University of Memphis set to be complete in August 2024.  In the summer 2024 Scott was Awarded The Heights Line Project where he designed an art installation that will also serve as a rest area for The Heights line, a 1.75 mile pedestrian linear park in Memphis,TN. The project is set to be complete in the winter 2025. 

 

Scott continues to teach K-8 art in Memphis City Schools and work as a public artist.  He is beginning to merge his passion for teaching and public art by allowing students to sometimes assist in art projects for stipends. He hopes to someday create an organization that mentors and hires youth for public art and carpentry.