Onyx Finney

Public relations practitioner, branding strategist and social media maven Onyx O. Finney is CEO and Chief Creative Officer of The Creative Nous, LLC—a brand-centric communication boutique agency. Finney founded The Creative Nous to help clients strategically develop and target their brand messaging.

Before embarking on the unpredictable yet rewarding road to entrepreneurship, Finney served as Director of Marketing and Communication for the Painted Bride Art Center. Onyx rebranded the Bride, increased customer engagement, and expanded media partnerships that promoted many genre-bending artists including Saturn Never Sleeps ( King Britt and Rucyl) , Mr. Sonny James of Illvibe Collective and renowned visual artist J.J. McCracken, among others.

Finney also directed communication and special events at the Center for African Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where she branded the Center and set the standard for its special events, communication initiatives, and academic programs. Onyx produced a variety of special events that featured Harry Belafonte, Ursula Rucker, Tukufu Zuberi, Spike Lee, Sekou Sundiata, Angela Davis, Rep. Maxine Waters, bell hooks, Hannibal Lokumbe, Michael Eric Dyson, Julie Dash, Marc Lamont Hill, Mary Frances Berry and President Bill Clinton.

In 2008, Finney volunteered as strategic advisor and press secretary for Pennsylvania State Representative Rosita Youngblood’s successful re-election campaign. She was tapped to lend her expertise again in 2012.

Onyx is an active volunteer and currently serves on several boards including Johnson House Historic Site. Her interests included the intersection of communications, arts, digital media and marketing psycology.