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I am Makenzie Lawson, a Wake Forest University senior pursuing a BA in Studio Art with a drawing focus. I merge fine art with wearable fashion through ML.Customs, my custom sneaker venture, and I build community-focused art programs while teaching printmaking and drawing. I thrive on turning creative ideas into tangible projects and collaborating with institutions, collectors, and students to expand access to the arts. I love exploring how art translates across mediums—from gallery walls to everyday objects—and I’m passionate about mentoring emerging artists, developing brands, and creating opportunities for creative problem solving in local communities.…I am Makenzie Lawson, a Wake Forest University senior pursuing a BA in Studio Art with a drawing focus. I merge fine art with wearable fashion through ML.Customs, my custom sneaker venture, and I build community-focused art programs while teaching printmaking and drawing. I thrive on turning creative ideas into tangible projects and collaborating with institutions, collectors, and students to expand access to the arts. I love exploring how art translates across mediums—from gallery walls to everyday objects—and I’m passionate about mentoring emerging artists, developing brands, and creating opportunities for creative problem solving in local communities.

Makenzie Lawson

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I am Makenzie Lawson, a Wake Forest University senior pursuing a BA in Studio Art with a drawing focus. I merge fine art with wearable fashion through ML.Customs, my custom sneaker venture, and I build community-focused art programs while teaching printmaking and drawing. I thrive on turning creative ideas into tangible projects and collaborating with institutions, collectors, and students to expand access to the arts. I love exploring how art translates across mediums—from gallery walls to everyday objects—and I’m passionate about mentoring emerging artists, developing brands, and creating opportunities for creative problem solving in local communities.…I am Makenzie Lawson, a Wake Forest University senior pursuing a BA in Studio Art with a drawing focus. I merge fine art with wearable fashion through ML.Customs, my custom sneaker venture, and I build community-focused art programs while teaching printmaking and drawing. I thrive on turning creative ideas into tangible projects and collaborating with institutions, collectors, and students to expand access to the arts. I love exploring how art translates across mediums—from gallery walls to everyday objects—and I’m passionate about mentoring emerging artists, developing brands, and creating opportunities for creative problem solving in local communities.

Available to hire

I am Makenzie Lawson, a Wake Forest University senior pursuing a BA in Studio Art with a drawing focus. I merge fine art with wearable fashion through ML.Customs, my custom sneaker venture, and I build community-focused art programs while teaching printmaking and drawing. I thrive on turning creative ideas into tangible projects and collaborating with institutions, collectors, and students to expand access to the arts.

I love exploring how art translates across mediums—from gallery walls to everyday objects—and I’m passionate about mentoring emerging artists, developing brands, and creating opportunities for creative problem solving in local communities.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Language

English

Fluent

Work Experience

Founder & Lead Designer at ML.Customs

April 1, 2019 - September 1, 2021

Founded an independent custom footwear venture, conceptualizing and executing custom-made, hand-painted sneaker designs to merge fine art with wearable fashion. Launched and managed brand profiles on Instagram and TikTok to drive digital marketing, coordinate orders, and cultivate word-of-mouth growth, resulting in consistent profit growth. Oversaw all business operations, managing production timelines, material sourcing, pricing structures, and financial tracking to maintain profitable margins.

Freelance Artist at Makenzie Lawson Art

June 1, 2019 - Present

Produce, market, and sell original and commissioned artwork across drawing, printmaking, and mixed media through an independent practice. Earned formal institutional acquisition by Wake Forest University, with an established client base ranging from private collectors to academic institutions. Leveraged advanced sublimation technology to mass-produce original artwork across diverse, non-traditional canvases for commercial distribution.

Presidential Art Scholar at Wake Forest University

September 1, 2022 - Present

Orchestrated initiatives alongside fellow Presidential Scholars, faculty, and university administration to promote student artwork, elevate the visibility of Wake Forest's art program, recruit prospective scholarship recipients, manage and drive attendance at art events, and increase engagement among a student body of 4,800+. Successfully established three permanent academic awards recognizing high-achieving studio art and art history graduating students, to secure lasting institutional recognition for the department. Individually guided the Board of Visitors through the university's printmaking studio, presented personal artwork, and executed a live printing demonstration to elevate arts visibility and support fundraising efforts for a new, advanced fine arts facility.

Founder and Lead Artist at Summer Art Program

May 1, 2023 - August 1, 2024

Built and managed a community-focused summer arts program, delivering structured drawing and painting fundamentals to a cohort of 30+ students aged 5–12. Executed marketing and recruitment strategies, utilizing Canva to design promotional flyers distributed across targeted physical and digital channels to drive enrollment. Architected a comprehensive curriculum to counteract reduced arts programming in local schools, prioritizing foundational art education, creative problem-solving, and personal expression to build student confidence and exposure to the arts.

Student Consultant & Strategist at Wake Forest University – Entrepreneurship Courses

January 1, 2025 - Present

Formulated a comprehensive marketing plan for emerging businesses, executing target audience research, competitor analysis, brand positioning strategy, and multi-channel digital promotional tactics. Developed and delivered comprehensive business pitches and logo designs for multiple emerging startup concepts, establishing distinct brand identities and constructing viable go-to-market strategies. Conducted executive interviews with prominent founders, including Jamie Siminoff, to extract strategic insights on market entry, scaling, and entrepreneurial problem-solving.

Intern & Studio Instructor at Washington Printmakers Gallery

June 1, 2025 - August 1, 2025

Managed daily gallery operations and exhibition logistics, including artwork handling, installation, marketing materials, juried submission coordination, client communications, and visitor engagement tracking. Designed and instructed a month-long relief printmaking workshop for community adults, teaching historical contexts and technical methods to execute precise plate carvings and successful print pulls.