Marymount University’s Cody Gallery opened a brand-new exhibit in February, “The Joy Lab,” featuring multimedia creations by Baltimore-based artist Sanah Brown-Bowers. The immersive exhibition honors family, faith and Black history through color, storytelling and bold material exploration.
“We are incredibly proud to present Sanah’s work here at Marymount and be her first official university exhibit,” said Mary Proenza, Cody Gallery Director and Associate Professor of Art in Marymount’s School of Design and Art. “It’s immersive, vibrant and full of life, and we are so excited to share it with our community.”
Before the exhibit’s opening, Brown-Bowers spoke about her personal journey during an artist’s lecture in the Ballston Auditorium. Born and raised in Queens, N.Y., she lived in a household that encouraged creativity and self-expression.
“My mother worked for the police department full time, but her true passion was mixed-media art, so our house was full of creativity. We didn’t have much money, but we had imagination. My mother taught my siblings and me how to sew, build and create with whatever was available. Art was very much part of our identity.”
Despite her creative upbringing, Brown-Bowers struggled to find her footing as an artist for many years. After dropping out of school, she bounced from job to job, seeking stability for herself and her young daughter. It wasn’t until a friend invited her to church that she felt she “rediscovered herself.”
“During that season, I spent a great deal of time in prayer, and I felt increasingly certain that I was meant to pursue art,” Brown-Bowers said. “So, I taught myself how to paint.”
She quickly diversified her portfolio by painting murals for local businesses, portraits for weddings and custom art pieces. After several years, she returned to school and earned two bachelor’s degrees in sculpture and in drawing and painting before pursuing an MFA at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).
“Graduate school was not about learning how to paint, I already knew how to do that,” Brown-Bowers explained. “It was about community, critique and expanding opportunity. The work you see in The Joy Lab reflects my evolution during that time.”
Now, she is a full-time artist living and teaching in Maryland. She encouraged young creatives to stay true to themselves and their purpose as they explore their artistic aspirations.
“I believe we are each created with intention, yet sometimes we get distracted by other voices—fear, expectations, even well-meaning family members pushing us toward something that isn’t truly ours. For me, it took time—prayer, isolation and courage—to pursue what I knew I was called to do, even when others were afraid for me. What I’ve learned is that if you follow your purpose, you will find fulfillment.”
Following the presentation, attendees were invited to explore “The Joy Lab,” which transformed the Cody Gallery into a vibrant, multi-sensory environment. The exhibition features large-scale mixed-media altarpieces, paintings, screenprints, sculpture, video and interactive elements, inspired by the whimsy and eccentricities of Sesame Street, Pee-wee’s Playhouse and Tim Burton.
“I’m drawn to immersive worlds and recurring characters,” Brown-Bowers explained. “I wanted to create a universe that viewers could step into. I never wanted to choose just one medium—I love sculpture, collage and installation. So, I began combining everything, building shadow boxes that incorporate painting, dimensional elements and storytelling.”
At the center of the installation is “RoboNana,” a recurring Afro-futurist matriarch figure who “embodies wisdom, spiritual grounding and generational love.” Around her, Brown-Bowers constructed layered shadow boxes and immersive spaces that feel both playful and reverent—worlds within worlds that invite viewers to look closely and linger.
But as playful as the exhibit is, it is deeply rooted in faith.
“It’s the core of my practice. My work is about joy and love, but it’s also about what I believe as a Christian. I want people to leave feeling encouraged and reminded that they have identity and purpose.”
The exhibit drew a large crowd, including sophomore Fashion Design student Elaria Henok, who commented on how immersive and inspiring the exhibit was.
“I think this might be the coolest exhibit Marymount has ever hosted,” Henok said. “It’s so colorful and lively, and it feels like stepping into a new, whimsical world. Coming to the Cody Gallery and seeing the work of other artists inspires me as I think about my own designs and how I want to share them with the world.”
“It’s so exciting to see everyone’s reaction to my work,” Brown-Bowers added. “I hope that they can find inspiration in my art and in my journey, and that they can see the power of being authentically yourself.”
