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Pratt>FORWARD 2022

pratt forward graphic
image of newlab first floor

Announcing Pratt>FORWARD 2022 at Newlab!

Pratt>FORWARD, a program launched in 2021 by Pratt Fine Arts, connects emerging artists with creative thought-leaders and practitioners in the field. The goal is to help emerging artists navigate the art world and empower them to build their own opportunities and communities. Pratt>FORWARD is about forging relationships, sharing knowledge, and generating agency. In its second edition, Pratt>FORWARD is extending the opportunities offered to participants by partnering with Newlab in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. All selected will receive full scholarships to attend.

The directors and core mentors of Pratt>FORWARD 2022, from L-R from top row: Mickalene Thomas, Jane South, Derrick Adams, Racquel Chevremont, Elizabeth Lamb, José Parlá, and Jasmine Wahi

The directors and core mentors of Pratt>FORWARD 2022, from L-R from top row:
Mickalene Thomas, Jane South, Derrick Adams, Racquel Chevremont, Elizabeth Lamb, José Parlá, and Jasmine Wahi

Pratt>FORWARD is co-directed by Mickalene Thomas, BFA Fine Arts ’00, and South. Its 2022 core mentors include Pratt Trustee and alumnus Derrick Adams, BFA Art and Design Education ’96; collector and art advisor Racquel Chevremont; arts organizer and Director of Company Gallery Elizabeth Lamb; artist José Parlá; and curator, activist, and Project for Empty Space Founder Jasmine Wahi.

Pratt>FORWARD 2022 will be an in-person program for the month of October with every artist selected to participate having access to studio space at Newlab. Participants will also be able to use Newlab’s maker facilities which include laser-cutting, 3D printing, CNC milling, wood and metal shops, and an electronics lab, as well as engage with Newlab’s entrepreneurial community. Pratt>FORWARD mentors include artists, curators, gallerists, thought leaders, and creative practitioners. Together they will support the selected participants through nurturing artistic exploration, providing insights on career development skills, and empowering them to be cultural advocates and leaders in developing artist-led models for engagement. Central to all of this is sustaining life as an impactful artist.

“My experience with Pratt>FORWARD was something I’ve been in search of for many years,” said Phylicia Ghee, a 2021 Pratt>FORWARD artist. “The fellowship offered exceedingly valuable, deeply important guidance for artists on so many topics and facets: traversing all of the layers of being an artist, navigating the art world, connecting with and building community, the marketplace, taxes, legal and copyright issues, and the overall logistics of being a creative entrepreneur. In other words, the information we really need to know and have needed to know for so long.”

A series of public dialogues at Newlab in conjunction with Pratt>FORWARD is planned for the fall with details to be announced nearer the time.

Pratt Forward news article (Fall 2022)

Pratt news article here (Spring 2022)

Read about the 10 artists selected for Pratt>FORWARD 2022 here


Pratt>FORWARD 2022 artists Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter, Taisha Carrington, Jennifer Chia-Ling Ho, Mario Joyce, Kirsten Leach, Kristyn McKinney, Sajjad Musa, Mieyoshi Ragernoir, Vessna Scheff and Yamico will each introduce their work at this launch event for P>F22 at Newlab!

Pratt>FORWARD, co-founded by Pratt BFA’00 Mickalene Thomas and Fine Arts Chair, Jane South, was launched in 2021 by Pratt Fine Arts.

Pratt>FORWARD connects emerging artists with creative thought-leaders and practitioners in the field. The goal is to help emerging artists navigate the art world and empower them to build their own opportunities and communities.

Pratt>FORWARD 22 is a partnership with Newlab in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. In addition to offering mentorship sessions with creative professionals, the partnership with Newlab provides artists with access to 21st-century making facilities and the potential for collaboration with Newlab’s community of over 900 entrepreneurs, artists, technologists, and researchers.

All Pratt>FORWARD artist participants receive full scholarships to attend.

Pratt>FORWARD 2022 core mentors include Pratt Trustee and alumnus Derrick Adams, collector and art advisor Racquel Chevremont; arts organizer and Director of Company Gallery Elizabeth Lamb; artist José Parlá; and curator, activist, and Project for Empty Space Founder Jasmine Wahi.

Pratt>FORWARD 2022 visiting guests include Analia Segal, Anna Stothart, Ché Morales, Elizabeth Lamb, Emily McElwreath, Everette Taylor, Gabriela Collins Fernandez, Hrag Vartanian, Ivy Jones, Jasmine Wahi, Jennifer Mazza, Keely Orgeman, Kelly Driscoll, Kendal Henry, Larry Ossei-Mensah, Laurel Sparks, Niama Safia Sandy, Nicole Crawford, Pareesa Pourian, Phillip Collins, Sameer Aurora, Sarah Workneh, Shaun Leonardo and Tamsin Dillon.

We are grateful to all these amazing people for being a part of P>F 2022!

P>F artists visit Newlab's Bio Lab with Sarsa Nejad (center)
P>F artists visit Newlab’s Bio Lab with Sara Nejad (center)
P>F dialogue session with José Parlá (left) and Derrick Adams (right)
P>F dialogue session with José Parlá (left) and Derrick Adams (right)
BFA Alum, BOT member and P>F Core Mentor, Derrick Adams
BFA Alum, BOT member and P>F Core Mentor, Derrick Adams
Dialogue session guest and visiting artist, Nina Chanel Abney
Dialogue session guest and visiting artist, Nina Chanel Abney
P>F artist, Taisha Carrington presents her work at P>F launch
P>F artist, Taisha Carrington presents her work at P>F launch
Fine Arts Civic Engagement Fellow, Mary Mattingly shares lunch with P>F artists
Fine Arts Civic Engagement Fellow, Mary Mattingly shares lunch with P>F artists
Dialogue session guest, art advisor Emily McElwreath (center)
Dialogue session guest, art advisor Emily McElwreath (center)
Dialogue session guests, gallerist Elizabeth Lamb and art advisors Sameer Aurora and Tresell Davis
Dialogue session guests, gallerist Elizabeth Lamb and art advisors Sameer Aurora and Tresell Davis
Studio of P>F artist Mieyoshi Ragernoir
Studio of P>F artist Mieyoshi Ragernoir
Studio of P>F artist Yamico
Studio of P>F artist Yamico
Dialogue session with lawyer Anibal Luque
Dialogue session with lawyer Anibal Luque
Community dialogue with (L to R) Taisha Carrington, Felix Lugo, Sajjad Musa, and Jennifer Chia-Ling Ho
Community dialogue with (L to R) Taisha Carrington, Felix Lugo, Sajjad Musa, and Jennifer Chia-Ling Ho
P>F closing event
P>F closing event
Dialogue session guest, RECESS co-director, Shaun Leonardo
Dialogue session guest, RECESS co-director, Shaun Leonardo
Dialogue session guests, Project for Empty Space founder and director, Jasmine Wahi & Skowhegan co-director, Sarah Workneh
Dialogue session guests, Project for Empty Space founder and director, Jasmine Wahi & Skowhegan co-director, Sarah Workneh
Community lunch
Community lunch
Open studios with P>F artists (L-R) Mieyoshi Ragenoir, Kirsten Leach & Kristyn McKinney
Open studios with P>F artists (L-R) Mieyoshi Ragenoir, Kirsten Leach & Kristyn McKinney
Open Studios with P>F artist, Yamico
Open Studios with P>F artist, Yamico
Dialogue session with guests founder/editor-in-chief of Hyperallergic, Hrag Vartanian and Alexandra Marraccini
Dialogue session with guests founder/editor-in-chief of Hyperallergic, Hrag Vartanian and Alexandra Marraccini
Studio visits with BFA00 and P>F co-founder/director Mickalene Thomas (L) and Newlab founder, David Belt (R)
Studio visits with BFA00 and P>F co-founder/director Mickalene Thomas (L) and Newlab founder, David Belt (R)
Dialogue session with guest, founder "Good Black Art" Phillip Collins (R)
Dialogue session with guest, founder “Good Black Art” Phillip Collins (R)
(L to R) Derrick Adams, Mickalene Thomas, and Pratt President, Frances Bronet
In the studios with Sajjad Musa (L) and Mieyoshi Ragernoir (R)

You are invited to the Pratt>FORWARD  Launch Event  at Newlab in the Navy Yard!

Thursday, Oct. 6th, 5-7pm
REGISTER here