The Philadelphia Fellowship for Black Artists Cohort 2026

Caption: Meet and Greet for 2026 Philadelphia Fellowship for Black Artists at Paradigm Gallery, May 22, 2026. Photo by Steven Taylor.

As we welcome the seventh cohort of the Philadelphia Fellowship for Black Artists, we’re also celebrating an important milestone: More than 100 artists have now come through this program from 2020 to today.

That growth has taught us a great deal—not only about what artists are creating, but about what they need. We’ve gained insight into the opportunities they seek, the connections they build, how they collaborate, and where gaps persist in support for Black artists in Philadelphia.

Those lessons continue to shape the fellowship.

From the beginning, the cornerstone of this program has been foundational support. It’s the kind of support many artists don’t receive in art school. Instead, we often find it through residencies, fellowships, apprenticeships, and the mentors we meet along the way. Those experiences teach us how to sustain a practice, navigate institutions, advocate for ourselves, and build meaningful relationships within the arts community.

That’s the role we hope this fellowship plays.

While the financial stipend is an important investment in an artist’s practice, the fellowship is ultimately about much more than funding. It’s about creating a network of artists who challenge one another, collaborate across disciplines, share knowledge, and continue to support each other long after their fellowship year has ended. We want every fellow to know that this community doesn’t disappear when the program concludes. It grows with them.

One of the greatest strengths of this fellowship is that it has never been static.

Every cohort teaches us something new. They show us where our city is thriving, where barriers still exist, and where our own program can grow. I rely heavily on our fellows to tell us what’s working, what isn’t, and what they need from us in response to the cultural, political, and artistic realities of the moment. Those conversations are invaluable because they allow the fellowship to evolve alongside the artists it serves.

The fellowship doesn’t ask artists to fit into a predetermined model. Instead, it adapts to meet each cohort where they are.

We begin with studio visits and one-on-one conversations to understand where each artist is in their practice, where they hope to go, and what they want to gain from their fellowship year. Those conversations help us tailor the experience to each fellow’s goals.

From there, fellows explore Philadelphia’s cultural landscape through field trips and institutional visits, building relationships with the organizations, artists, and leaders that make up the city’s creative ecosystem. We complement these experiences with professional development.

We also prioritize the well-being of the artist. Our annual wellness retreat creates space for rest, reflection, and restoration, recognizing that artists who continually pour into their communities also deserve opportunities to recharge and be cared for.

Throughout the year, fellows work toward a culminating exhibition, refining new work and preparing to present it to collectors, curators, and arts professionals. This year, I’m especially excited to return to curating the exhibition myself, working closely with each artist to shape a show that celebrates both their individual practices and the collective strength of the cohort.

At its core, the Philadelphia Fellowship for Black Artists is about building an ecosystem, not simply running a program. Every cohort expands our community, every artist strengthens it, and every year teaches us how to better support the next. The fellowship continues to evolve because our artists continue to shape it—and that’s exactly as it should be.

This year’s program reflects everything we’ve learned over the past seven years. It’s built from the successes of previous cohorts, the honest feedback of our alumni, and our ongoing commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for artists at every stage of their careers.