WS Chronicle

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Alumnus Paul Tazewell, who won an Academy Award on March 2 for achievement in costume design for the film “Wicked,” will speak at the 2025 commencement of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). 

Tazewell is the first Black man to receive the award for costume design and the first UNCSA alum to win an Oscar, which he called “the pinnacle of my career.” He has shaped the visual storytelling of Broadway, regional theater, film and television, dance, and opera for more than 30 years. He has also won a Tony Award, for “Hamilton,” and an Emmy Award, for “The Wiz Live!” 

Tazewell will address undergraduate and graduate students at the University Commencement at 10 a.m. and graduating high school students at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Benton Convention Center in downtown Winston-Salem. 

“I am thrilled that Paul Tazewell will return to his alma mater once again to speak to students who are going into an ever-changing global arts and entertainment industry,” said Chancellor Brian Cole, who will preside over the ceremonies. “Paul’s influence over costume design has been transformative in all the performing, moving image and visual arts. On the heels of his monumental win at the Oscars, Paul is the finest role model that our graduating students could ever have – someone who has literally been in their shoes and forged his own path in the industry. It’s a day that they will never forget!” 

Chancellor Cole added: “We are forever indebted to Paul for his willingness to return to UNCSA as a guest artist and as a commencement keynote speaker. That’s what UNCSA is all about: passing the experience and expertise of practicing artists on to the next generation of artists.” 

Tazewell said: “I’m deeply honored to deliver the 2025 UNCSA Commencement speech, 39 years after walking across the stage to receive my own diploma. That moment opened the door to countless opportunities, and I’m thrilled to celebrate this new beginning for the next generation of talented, creative artists.” 

Tazewell received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1986 from the School of Design and Production at UNCSA, where he studied in the costume design & technology program, which has been ranked in the Top 10 worldwide by The Hollywood Reporter for the past seven years. He went on to receive his Master of Fine Arts from New York University in 1989. In 2018, he established a merit-based scholarship in UNCSA’s School of Design and Production, and he has served on the university’s board of trustees. He also was the commencement speaker for UNCSA’s 2018 ceremonies. 

More about Paul Tazewell 

Paul Tazewell has profoundly impacted theater, film, and television over three decades with his innovative and inspired designs. Renowned for visually stunning costumes, his work enhances both storytelling and character development. 

Tazewell’s recent achievements include winning an Academy Award for best costume design for his work on “Wicked,” directed by John M. Chu and featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. This accolade was accompanied by a BAFTA Award for best costume design, a Critics Choice Award, the Costume Designers Guild’s Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film award, NAACP Image Award and the Innovator Award from the African American Film Critics Association, underscoring his critical role in bringing the fantastical world of Oz to life. Additional accolades include an Academy Award nomination for “West Side Story” in 2021, an Emmy for “The Wiz Live!” and recognitions for his contributions to “Harriet,” “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” and “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.” 

On Broadway, his costumes in “Death Becomes Her,” currently on Broadway, and the 2024 production of “Suffs” demonstrate his ongoing influence, earning him a Drama Desk Award in 2024 and a Tony Award nomination. His revolutionary designs for “Hamilton” won him a Tony Award in 2016, further establishing his reputation in theatrical costume design. 

Throughout his career, Tazewell has earned multiple Lucille Lortel Awards, Helen Hayes Awards, and additional accolades from the Costume Designers Guild. His dedication is also evident in his collaborations with The Metropolitan Opera, The Bolshoi Ballet, and The English National Opera. 

Educated at New York University and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Tazewell has shared his expertise as a guest artist at these institutions and served on the faculty at Carnegie Mellon University from 2003 to 2006. 

Based in New York City, Tazewell continues to inspire and shape the future of costume design, bringing life to a rich tapestry of characters through his artful and intricate designs. 

About the School of Design & Production at UNCSA 

A stand-alone design and production conservatory dedicated to every aspect of the global entertainment industry, the School of Design and Production (D&P) at UNCSA delivers a profoundly creative, hands-on immersion in the behind-the-scenes magic of live entertainment, with undergraduate and graduate programs in animatronics, costume design, costume technology, lighting, production and project management, scene design, scene painting, scenic art, scenic technology, sound design, stage automation, stage management, stage properties, technical direction, and wig and makeup design. D&P is the only one of its kind as a conservatory that is not integrated into a theater program, giving students and alumni the opportunity to transition into other career fields like film, television, and live and themed entertainment. 

Notable D&P alumni include Academy Award-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell, TV and film executive producer Tanase Popa, photographer David LaChapelle, actress Hunter Schafer, wig and makeup artist Destinee Steele, Director of Visual | Windows + Interiors at Saks Fifth Avenue Connor Matz, and many others.