UNCSA alum becomes first Black man to win Oscar for costume design
Paul Tazewell, winner of the award for best costume design for "Wicked," poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. JORDAN STRAUSS/AP
The man behind Elphaba’s asymmetrical witch hat and Galinda’s pink bubble dress, Paul Tazewell, took home the Oscar for best costume design Sunday night.
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts alum worked in Broadway, film, dance and opera for more than 30 years.
This was his second Oscar nomination in this category, but his first win. And, as Tazewell explained in his acceptance speech, the achievement was historic.
“I'm the first Black man to receive the costume design award for my work on Wicked," Tazewell said. "I'm so proud of this."
Tazewell graduated from UNCSA’s School of Design and Production in 1986, and is the university’s first alum to win an Oscar.
In a press release, Chancellor Brian Cole said that Tazewell “not only made history but also paved the way for future generations of artists.”
Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.
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