Roman Belton (b. 2004, Mississippi) invites viewers into a more vibrant, liberated world through their soft sculpture and costume work. They create unashamedly joyful pieces using queer aesthetics and symbols of childhood. They receive the Fellowship in the Arts Scholarship, and work in the University Costume Shop as a designer and technician. Roman will graduate with BAs in Art and Theatre from Sewanee: The University of the South in May 2026.
In their puppetry work, Roman focuses on community building and aims to engage with both newcomers and experts. They are a Thomas J. Watson Fellow studying puppetry and its intersection with gender expression for the 2026-27 year.
