Open Call:
Sovern LA Youth Artist in Residency
In Partnership with Dale Brockman Davis and Terrell Tilford
Juror & Mentors
Dale Brockman Davis, Artist, Art Educator, Co-Founder of Brockman Gallery
Terrell Tilford, Founder & Creative Director, Band of Vices
Nicole Shostak-Sabourian, Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Sovern LA
Deadline for Submission
July 28, 2025
Notice of Acceptance
By August 5, 2025
Artist Residency Dates
September - November 2025 with approximately two meetings per month
Exhibition Run Dates
December 4 - December 11, 2025
About
This residency will provide a platform for two participating youth artists along with the opportunity to receive mentorship and direction in support of building a holistic and sustainable art career. We aim to support the artists in defining and discovering their voice.
Artists will be encouraged to explore and experiment while refining their practice and receiving support. We will cover the how to’s of building a career as a visual artist from how to put together a portfolio and artist statement, to developing the muscles of a disciplined practice.
Participating artists will receive a $7,000 stipend for studio time, materials, transportation, etc. plus mentorship, network building and a culminating exhibition at Sovern in December 2025.
Eligibility and Guidelines
The residency is open to Artists of Color who are between the ages of 18 and 23 (born 2002 - 2007), working in painting, drawing, sculpture, and mixed media, who are based in L.A. County with the means/ability to meet in person in West Adams LA two times per month from September to December 2025. Artists will be expected to produce a minimum of 5 works during the residency with the understanding that at least three will be shown in the exhibition running December 4-11, 2025. Maximum dimensions per piece 48” x 48”.
Submissions will be juried by residency mentors and artists will be selected based on creativity and quality of works.
Acceptance Notice
Once the juror has made selections, all entrants will receive an email from Sovern by August 4, 2025.
How to Enter
Click HERE to enter.
https://bit.ly/sovernopencall
Liability & Agreement
Each artist retains all copyrights to their images & works exhibited in exhibition. Residency artists grant Sovern the right to use their images with artists’ credits for display on Sovern’s social media and website for the purpose of promoting exhibition and programs, and promoting the artists. Artists grant the use of their image(s) as stated without further contact from Sovern. Artists are welcome to sell their artworks during the exhibit, with 40% commission to Sovern LA. Submission of application will constitute an agreement to all these terms and conditions.
Sovern LA Youth Artist in Residency
In Partnership with Dale Brockman Davis and Terrell Tilford
Juror & Mentors
Dale Brockman Davis, Artist, Art Educator, Co-Founder of Brockman Gallery
Terrell Tilford, Founder & Creative Director, Band of Vices
Nicole Shostak-Sabourian, Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Sovern LA
Deadline for Submission
July 28, 2025
Notice of Acceptance
By August 5, 2025
Artist Residency Dates
September - November 2025 with approximately two meetings per month
Exhibition Run Dates
December 4 - December 11, 2025
About
This residency will provide a platform for two participating youth artists along with the opportunity to receive mentorship and direction in support of building a holistic and sustainable art career. We aim to support the artists in defining and discovering their voice.
Artists will be encouraged to explore and experiment while refining their practice and receiving support. We will cover the how to’s of building a career as a visual artist from how to put together a portfolio and artist statement, to developing the muscles of a disciplined practice.
Participating artists will receive a $7,000 stipend for studio time, materials, transportation, etc. plus mentorship, network building and a culminating exhibition at Sovern in December 2025.
Eligibility and Guidelines
The residency is open to Artists of Color who are between the ages of 18 and 23 (born 2002 - 2007), working in painting, drawing, sculpture, and mixed media, who are based in L.A. County with the means/ability to meet in person in West Adams LA two times per month from September to December 2025. Artists will be expected to produce a minimum of 5 works during the residency with the understanding that at least three will be shown in the exhibition running December 4-11, 2025. Maximum dimensions per piece 48” x 48”.
Submissions will be juried by residency mentors and artists will be selected based on creativity and quality of works.
Acceptance Notice
Once the juror has made selections, all entrants will receive an email from Sovern by August 4, 2025.
How to Enter
Click HERE to enter.
https://bit.ly/sovernopencall
Liability & Agreement
Each artist retains all copyrights to their images & works exhibited in exhibition. Residency artists grant Sovern the right to use their images with artists’ credits for display on Sovern’s social media and website for the purpose of promoting exhibition and programs, and promoting the artists. Artists grant the use of their image(s) as stated without further contact from Sovern. Artists are welcome to sell their artworks during the exhibit, with 40% commission to Sovern LA. Submission of application will constitute an agreement to all these terms and conditions.
Featured Mentors:
|
Dale Brockman Davis (b. 1945, Tuskegee, AL) is an artist, teacher, community activist and gallery owner, whose skills have led him to explore Sculpture, Ceramics, Jewelry Design, and Assemblage. He has taught these disciplines to secondary students with LAUSD. Mr. Davis was the co-founder/director of Brockman Gallery in Leimert Park area of Los Angeles, CA. He is an active artist who has had numerous exhibits and contemporary art forum exposures, and whose work is in many private and personal collections. Mr. Davis believes that all people should cultivate an awareness of art in their immediate environment and community at large. This awareness in young people is essential and vital to their perception and conception of themselves and their world.
Davis received a BFA in ceramics from USC in 1969. Notable awards and commendations include Outstanding Cultural Contributions from the City of Los Angeles, Councilman Bernard Parks in 2012, Outstanding Artistic Contributions from the City of Los Angeles, Mayor Villaraigosa in 2009, and Cultural Contributions to the Community from the California State Senate in 1997. |
errell Tilford is a cultural force who, for over 25 years, has amplified artists and elevated brands through the power of community, creativity, and connection. As Founder & Creative Director of Band of Vices and Tilford Art Group, he has collaborated with more than 1,000 artists from around the globe, championing underrepresented voices and fostering dialogue through art. Born and raised between Mid-City and the historic West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tilford’s work is deeply rooted in the cultural richness of his hometown. His multi-hyphenate career has earned him front-page features in The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times, as well as profiles in Los Angeles Magazine, LA Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, and an upcoming project with Louis Vuitton. Tilford’s creative partnerships span institutions such as The Getty, The Los Angeles Lakers, and Geffen Playhouse, and his curatorial vision has been showcased at premier art fairs including Context Art Fair, AKAA (Also Known As Africa) in Paris, Harlem Fine Arts Show, and Prizm Art Fair.
Later this year, he will publish his first book — a deeply personal and empowering guide for artists navigating the creative journey.
Later this year, he will publish his first book — a deeply personal and empowering guide for artists navigating the creative journey.
Sovern LA is a nonprofit intersectional community center and gallery, located in LA’s West Adams district, focused on supporting Black and Indigenous women and gender expansive people of color. Fueled by a passion for justice, equality and creative expression, our organization is driven by the collective determination to center healing justice, challenge systemic barriers, empower artists of color and amplify their impact for collective wellbeing. By building a community that uplifts and celebrates diverse voices, we aim to reshape the art world in Los Angeles and beyond, creating a more inclusive and equitable space where artists and communities can thrive together.
