There’s something exciting about watching an artist’s career take shape. The Rising Star Spark Award celebrates artists and arts administrators who are doing meaningful work early in their careers, stepping into new roles, or taking on new challenges—and already showing us what they’re capable of.
This year’s honorees, Emma Brittain and Kaycee Colburn, are each carving out their own place in Western New York’s arts community and building strong momentum along the way.
Emma Brittain
2026 Rising Star Award Winner
Emma Brittain has been part of the Locust Street Art (LSA) team since 2017, working as a ceramics instructor, children’s drawing and painting teacher, and offsite program facilitator. That hands-on experience gave her a deep understanding of LSA’s students and community before she stepped into executive leadership.
Emma became Interim Executive Director in 2024 and permanently took on the role in June 2025. In her first year, she has taken on staff shortages, pursued nonprofit leadership training, expanded partnerships, and brought new energy to LSA’s programming and community relationships.
Under Emma’s leadership, LSA held its first open-call exhibition
in more than 15 years, partnered with other arts organizations on new exhibition opportunities, and expanded community-based programming, including murals and low-cost arts programming with urban farms and community gardens. She has also overseen significant accessibility improvements to LSA’s historic building, including a new ADA-accessible bathroom and the organization’s first wheelchair-accessible entrance, with plans to continue improving access throughout the building.
Emma is still early in her tenure as Executive Director, but her work is already helping shape LSA’s next chapter.
“Despite her already crazy schedule, Emma signed up for every training she could possibly find on how to be a better leader for LSA.”
Kaycee Colburn
2026 Rising Star Honorable Mention
Kaycee Colburn is a visual artist whose work moves across natural, contemporary, and traditional materials, often using art to tell stories, explore identity, and connect communities. Her practice has grown from Chautauqua County to Buffalo and beyond, with community relationships playing an important role in both her artwork and advocacy.
Kaycee has used those connections to create opportunities for Seneca and Native communities, including organizing a Six Nations flag raising at Jamestown City Hall. Her work also reaches beyond the region, from a digital painting exhibition
that helped raise funds for macaw conservation in Costa Rica to projects exploring Native history, culture, and lore.
Now exploring filmmaking as a new medium, Kaycee is continuing to expand her creative practice and the ways she uses art to create connection and tell stories. We’re excited to follow her evolving career as our Rising Star honorable mention.
