ART ON THE RISE
Roles: Founder, Creative Director, Curator, Producer
Presented By: Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative
2019-2022
Washington, DC
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Art On The Rise is a multidisciplinary art exhibition and experience I conceptualized and founded during my tenure at the Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative (FSFSC).
What began as a spontaneous idea sparked by a conversation with a community member evolved into a three-year annual event that positioned local Ward 7 and 8 artists before funders, collectors, and art enthusiasts, creating new pathways for visibility, income, and self-belief.
THE ORIGIN STORY
The idea for Art On The Rise was born in the most unexpected way. I was working in community engagement when one of our summer program participants, a mother of two, asked me to download her daughter’s artwork onto her phone. When I saw the work, I was struck by its raw skill and voice. We started talking, and she revealed that she, too, was an artist, painting on whatever materials she could find: benches, leather couches, and old trunks. Her creativity was boundless, but her access to opportunity wasn’t.
That moment stayed with me. It reminded me that in our community, brilliance often exists without recognition, not because of a lack of talent, but a lack of access. I wanted to change that.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Shortly after, I shared the idea with my Executive Director and one of our funders: What if we created an art show that put local artists in front of funders?
No proposal, no plan, just the question.
Their response was simple: “Do it.”
And so, I did.
With a small internal team of two and two external collaborators from the arts community, I began shaping the vision that would become Art On The Rise. Together, we refined the concept, developed the artist call, and built an event structure that combined exhibition, activation, and marketplace. The goal was to center artistry as a vehicle for illuminating our voices, to build a platform where residents could not only showcase their work but also redefine what sustainability looked like for creatives east of the river.
THE EXPERIENCE
The inaugural Art On The Rise debuted with fifteen artists and over $25,000 in artwork sold. The show spanned three days:
• Day 1: Opening Reception — featuring live music, community storytelling, and donor engagement.
• Day 2: Artist Talks & Creative Activations — hands-on sessions that bridged dialogue between artists and audiences.
• Day 3: Public Viewing — allowing community members to experience the exhibit in a more reflective space.
Every detail, from the branding and merchandise to the sponsorship decks and invitations, was defined with precision and meaning. While I partnered with Uze Studio for the brand identity, I led all creative direction, production logistics, partnerships, and curation alongside two community curators
IMPACT AND CONTINUATION
Art On The Rise continued for three consecutive years, growing in scope, attendance, and sales annually. What began as a single exhibit evolved into a signature FSFSC initiative, merging art, community engagement, and economic mobility.
Over time, the program:
Helped artists generate tens of thousands of dollars in income
Attracted press coverage from NBC Washington, WHUR, and The Washington Post
Built lasting connections between residents, funders, and local collectors
Ultimately, Art On The Rise was about more than art sales. It was about rewriting a narrative, proving that creativity isn’t a luxury, it’s a livelihood. It was about showing people, especially those who look like me, that our creativity is not only valid but valuable, and that our stories and skills have the power to sustain us.
REFLECTION
Art On The Rise wasn’t just transformational for the artists I worked with; it was a turning point for me, too.
Of course, it reaffirmed my passion for building and curating experiences that center creativity and community, but it also taught me something deeper about trust, belief, and becoming.
The artists put their faith in me. They trusted me with their stories, their work, and their vulnerability, and I came through for them. In doing so, I learned to come through for myself. I didn’t doubt my ability, but I had never led something of this magnitude before. Their trust helped me find a new level of self-trust.
That experience made me realize that we can truly achieve whatever we set our minds to. It sounds cliché until you actually live it, until you feel the weight of accountability and the freedom that comes with following through. When we truly understand that, there’s no going back.
I’m still learning to live in that space, to refine it, to honor it, and to share it. But my hope is that everyone I work with, especially the artists and creatives I support, gets to feel that same realization: that their ideas are possible, their voices are enough, and their visions are worth building.
Key Skills Displayed
Creative Direction & Production
Brand & Sponsorship Strategy
Community Engagement & Partnership Building
Event Design & Curation
Storytelling & Impact Marketing
Collaborators
Demetrius Butler (co-curator)
Chrystal Seawood (co-curator)
UZ Studio (visual identity design)
