The work of underserved youth who have flourished as artists with the help of Art Division will be featured in an online exhibit hosted by the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Advocate & Gochis Galleries.
The exhibit goes live on Sept. 23 and celebrates the 10th anniversary of the grassroots organization that trains and supports youth studying visual arts after they turn 18.
“Art Division is at the forefront of developing young artists and getting exposure for them,” says Jon Imparato, the Center’s Director of Cultural Arts. “It’s an honor to collaborate with them and bring this outstanding work to our community.”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit last year, there have been no physical exhibits in the popular gallery space that opened in 1998 within The Village at Ed Gould Plaza. Instead, there have been a series of virtual exhibits including Darkness/Light and Arrested Movement earlier this year.
“One goal of our ongoing series of virtual exhibits is to highlight the work of up-and-coming artists who often have limited opportunities for showing their work,” Imparato explains.
The non-profit Art Division was founded in 2010 by Dan McCleary in the Rampart District of Los Angeles.
Through his role as director of arts programs for the after-school program Art Programs for Heart, McCleary realized most of his students lost access to community-based art programs once they turned 18. Art Division provides training and academic support to young adults aged 18–26 as they transition into four-year colleges and professional careers.
ART DIVISION: THE FIRST DECADE goes live at noon on Thursday, Sept. 23 and can be viewed at lalgbtcenter.org/gallery.
