FIFTY FIFTY

FIFTY FIFTY is a creative community in Los Angeles for underrepresented artists, centering Black women, non-binary, and queer people. Through a variety of public programming, we seek to uplift our stories and carve out more space for marginalized creatives to thrive.

We aim to open a physical space to house current and future programming including but not limited to art shows, creative workshops, food & beverage, film, and nightlife. We hope to create a space that gives marginalized people a safe community and more equitable opportunities to support their creative practices. 

I envision FIFTY FIFTY much more than a safe place for Black, queer, non-binary, and trans creatives. Rather, it is a place for us to feel valued, loved, and celebrated, as our full selves. Black lives don't just matter, they are sacred and should be treated as such. I want to cultivate a place to grow, heal, explore, mutually aid each other & our community, and share our stories. 

Current Space Breakdown:

Fifty Fifty is a creative space that celebrates a variety of media. Our current services/offerings are listed below and will continue to evolve based on community needs.  

Art & Education - Daily programming including but not limited to art shows, music, nightlife, food & beverage, fashion, film, mutual aid, and accessible art classes

Residencies - Weekly and monthly residency programs showcasing larger projects (ie: artists and chefs)

Pop-Ups- An opportunity for artists, chefs, and other small businesses to curate programming for one day

Startup Cost Breakdown:

Estimated 3 months rent + Security Deposit: $16,000

Renovations, Build Out, Equipment, Licensing: $24,000

Furniture: $10,000

Total: $50,000

I need everyone's help in making this possible! Please consider donating if you are able to and sharing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your support means the world to me.

About Me:

Growing up as a Black girl and engaging with art from a young age, there were few times I felt seen. From the artists I studied in school to the galleries and museums I visited, the margin for representation was so small. I soon learned that my family would become some of my greatest teachers in the art world and I would also have to do much of this work on my own. 

From adolescence into adulthood, I made it a priority to center my learnings and artwork around Black experiences. As a photographer, my work focuses on Black femme portraiture. In 2017, I curated one of my first art shows in a gallery space called We Real Cool at Junior High in Los Angeles. This was a multimedia, group show featuring 13 Black creatives, most of whom were queer. Never in my life had I'd been given space and support to do something like this and to see so many people show up for us to celebrate our work was beautiful to be apart of. At the end of opening night, I remember thinking to myself if I could create more programming like this on a regular basis, I truly believe it could serve as a catalyst for change. 

I've spent the last few years envisioning what this could both look and feel like. I began to write out, research, and visualize everything I thought a community like this could be. After talking with several people, the vision became clear that this was going to about the collective healing and liberation of a people that are so undervalued, mistreated, and never have a seat at the table. 

Our education systems, political structures, brands, creative communities, restaurants, nightlife venues, wellness spaces and so much more continue to exclude and invalidate marginalized narratives, operate under racist, oppressive ideologies, and repeatedly put our psychological and physical safety at risk. While this has been our reality for far too long, the current shift in cultural momentum makes Fifty Fifty feel dire now more than ever. The future is Black, queer as hell, and the time is now for us to build and invest in sustainable communities dedicated to uplifting us.