This week is Art Basel Miami and we're here taking it all in. Separate and apart from the fair I came across Jamilla Okubo an artist who's a rising star. A recent graduate from Parsons The New School of Design, Jamilla at just 24 years old has already collaborated on Dior Lady Art #2 with the iconic Dior Lady bag serving as the canvas.

With Dior’s second series of artists' collaboration of Dior Lady Art Bags, Jamilla has created three beautifully rendered bags embellished with bedazzling beads that bring to mind the colorful beaded ornamentation worn by the Maasai. This limited edition is now available at select Dior boutiques worldwide.

Taking the Fashion Illustration Performance class at Parsons inspired Jamilla to bring fashion and fine arts together. In honor of her Kenyan heritage Jamilla worked in a mixed media palette of acrylic paint, kente cloth from South Ghana and Kanga, a traditional African garment to create the painting African-American Gothic.

Jamilla’s artistic gifts became apparent while in elementary school with her recreation of an Édouard Manet Fish still-life painting. During her fledging career she has created the packaging for Big Hair No Care and illustrated a children’s book. Jamilla also showed works with AMREF Health Africa ArtBall at Milk Studio’s gallery.

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