2022 Emerging Artist of Color Resident, Elijah Pierce

When asked on the Emerging Artist of Color Residency application, "What ideas do you have for a visual art project?", Orchard View High School student, Elijah Pierce responded, "I want to focus on the beauty of individuality in this project and that life is too short to live in a box of expectations pushed upon you by people. Wear what you want to wear. Be who you want to be. Be You, because who else is going to do it for you?" Although Elijah's only been in residence at the ACWL-Nuveen for a few days, you can already see this profound vision in his work.

Thanks to a grant from the Youth Advisory Council of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, Elijah will be spending three weeks in residency at the ACWL-Nuveen where he has a designated studio space, materials, and mentorship with artists of color Tatsuki Hakoyama and Lester White. Elijah will be receiving a stipend for his time and will present an exhibition of the artwork he created during his residency this fall.

To date, Elijah has taken a mixed-media approach to his drawings but since starting his residency on August 2 he has had the opportunity to expand his studio practice by working with oils. His mentor Mr. Hakoyama, "Taz", is teaching intro oil painting classes the first two weeks of August.

This is the ACWL-Nuveen's second annual Emerging Artist of Color Residency. We love supporting young artists and helping them get a start on their artistic careers. Because art adds such value to the quality of all our lives, we are committed to continuing to grow this program in the years ahead.