IN JANUARY OF this year, I was very pleased and honored to be selected for Level Ground’s Artist Residency Program. Before this residency I had always been limited to working out of my bedroom, and as a result, my works tended to stay on a smaller scale. Level Ground helped me get my first art studio and provided me with a stipend for materials to produce a body of work for my first solo show, as well as a gallery to host it. The generous financial support and community they gave me meant a new sense of artistic freedom for me, which allowed me to produce works that were experimental and branch out to new media. 

Along with the residency, Level Ground brought together a community of artists and creatives to connect and hosted workshops for sharing and discussing insightful art topics. These workshops were a time of reflection for me to break from the sometimes isolating process of working in the studio. Each residency meeting between artists in residence and Level Ground directors and mentors began with a supportive group check-in, which made the whole process feel very honest and intentional. 

Level Ground gave me a chance to pursue something beyond the scope of my immediate resources.

Having the support of a group of people who not only believed in my artistic vision and potential, but pushed me to think bigger and be bolder was such an incredible experience. This was such a reassuring feeling knowing that I had people in my corner who wanted me to succeed and allowed me to do it my own way. Level Ground collaborates with so many great people, photographers, writers, producers, promotion, who all take part in making a show happen for artists who are underrepresented. This sort of

THE NINE MONTHS I spent planning, preparing, and working on my sculptures, paintings, and installations—all while working full time—were some of the most challenging moments of my life, but definitely some of the most rewarding. Seeing the works slowly come together was an exhilarating feeling, and having a group to talk it through with helped me to not feel overwhelmed. I literally put my blood, sweat and tears into my artworks, and at my opening I saw it all the way I imagined it. This residency has been such a valuable experience for me in my artistic career, Level Ground gave me a platform to share my work with a diverse, growing community. If you want a network that supports your work wholeheartedly, apply for the 2020 residency today.