A RESIDENCY PROGRAM SUPPORTING ARTISTS
WHO SEEK TO REDEFINE BEAUTY STANDARDS
UZUMAKI
CEPEDA
BRONX-BORN ARTIST UZUMAKI CEPEDA HAS RISEN TO CULTURAL PROMINENCE THROUGH A VISUAL LANGUAGE THAT CREATES SPACES. SPANNING SCULPTURE, PAINTING, AND INSTALLATION USING FAUX FUR, SHE CREATES HAVENS FOR HER COMMUNITY TO SEE THEMSELVES IN MOMENTS OF COMFORT.
PROJECT
FOR HER SMASHBOX OPEN STUDIOS PROJECT, UZUMAKI BUILT A WALK-IN, PLEASE-TOUCH INSTALLATION, WITH A FUR-COVERED VANITY FOR HER COMMUNITY TO SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THE SPACE.
RANDIJAH
SIMMONS
SELF-TAUGHT PHOTOGRAPHER RANDIJAH SIMMONS IS THE FOUNDER OF THE BABE CAVE, A WORKSPACE AND COMMUNITY FOR ALL TO CREATE AND SUPPORT THEIR PEERS IN DOING THE SAME.
PROJECT
RANDIJAH’S PROJECT, A PORTRAIT SERIES, COUNTERS THE ERASURE OF BLACK WOMEN AND VOICES BY EXPLORING THE INNOVATION AND EVOLUTION OF BLACK BEAUTY.
GABRIELA
RUIZ
COMBINING VIBRANT COLORS AND TEXTURES, FOUND OBJECTS AND INDUSTRIAL MATERIAL, GABRIELA RUIZ’S WORK EXPLORES NOTIONS OF SELF AND ENVIRONMENT, THE VIBRANCY OF MEXICAN TRADITION AND HER DIY WORK ETHIC.
PROJECT
AN EXPLORATION OF BROWN HYPER-SURREALISM, GABRIELA’S PORTRAITS AND SETS SERVE AS A CANVAS THROUGH WHICH HER SUBJECTS TAKE ON NEW PERSONAS.
ABOUT OPEN STUDIOS
THIS FOUR-WEEK INCUBATOR PROVIDES A GROUP OF AMBITIOUS, MULTI-TALENTED ARTISTS WITH PREMIUM RESOURCES TO DEVELOP AND SHOWCASE THEIR WORK.
THE PROGRAM CULMINATES IN A GROUP SHOW AT SMASHBOX STUDIOS, WHERE THE COHORT UNVEILS NEW PROJECTS THAT PUSH BOUNDARY-BREAKING BEAUTY STANDARDS ACROSS CULTURES, GENERATIONS, AND GENDERS.
PROGRAM RESOURCES
EACH ARTIST WILL BE PROVIDED A GRANT SPONSORED BY SMASHBOX, PLUS:
• STATE-OF-THE-ART STUDIO SPACE + EQUIPMENT
• MENTORSHIP FROM THE TEAM BEHIND SMASHBOX COSMETICS
• ACCESS TO SMASHBOX PRODUCT
