The Center For Emerging Visual Artists

05/29/2026

Thank you for making CFEVA’s Art Party an unforgettable evening!

Over 150 guests gathered on a beautiful evening to celebrate our artists and community, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who attended, donated, sponsored, or supported the event in any way. A special thank you to Morgan Lewis for providing such an exceptional rooftop venue to honor the artists and champions of our community.

This year, in light of a challenging funding climate, we set an ambitious goal, and we are almost there. While we are still tallying final contributions and awaiting a few last-minute pledges, there is still time to participate and make an impact. Every gift brings us closer.

Your support helps us invest directly in artists, fund essential fellowships and exhibitions, and sustain the vital career resources that empower Philadelphia’s creative community.

Here’s how you can help us close the gap:
⭐️Sponsor a Fellow
⭐️Make a direct donation
⭐️Shop our Auction Flash Sale – a few incredible items didn’t find a home during the party, and are now available at special flash sale prices.

If you were outbid or didn’t get a chance to place a bid, there’s still time! Visit tinyurl.com/cfevaartparty2026 to shop the flash sale through June 15.

05/26/2026

New artwork just added! Shop CFEVA’s Art Party online art sale + silent auction NOW live through May 28th at 10 PM.

Buy original artwork, bid on one-of-a-kind experiences, and more: tinyurl.com/cfevaartparty2026

Limited tickets and sponsorships for Art Party are still available at cfeva.org/art-party-2026

Unable to attend Art Party? You can still participate online from anywhere. Bidding + buying closes Thursday at 10 PM.

Pictured:
Mary Henderson, Heart
Corinna Cowles, Collage Plate 08
Phillip Adams, Whale of a Time
Diaja, Adam X Eve Series: Orchids
Julia Clift, Hybrid No. 1
Darla Jackson, never ending sky

05/20/2026

What a night. Last night’s free Artist Meetup brought together artists, organizers, and community members from across Philadelphia at for an evening of connection, conversation, and creative exchange.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and special thanks to Pedro, the Open Kitchen Sculpture Garden community, The , , and all who helped make this gathering possible. Spaces like these are essential for building meaningful relationships and strengthening Philadelphia’s arts community.

CFEVA is excited to continue Building Sustainable Futures, a three-year initiative funded by the William Penn Foundation focused on documenting the labor and economic realities of Philadelphia visual artists, particularly artists from underrepresented communities who have historically faced systemic barriers to arts institutions and opportunities.

Through research, artist-led pilots, community events, policy advocacy, and the development of a digital toolkit, this initiative aims to better understand and support sustainable creative careers in Philadelphia.

Artists, we would love to hear from you. Submit the interest form to participate in upcoming surveys, paid focus groups, one-on-one interviews, workshops, and community events — https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2T97X7R?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAR6gAVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAaf2m7q2Nnx7sEcZDf_-pc_fLEVQgumfp8DBTnZSUoxWWpl9AQpQESikbsBfqA_aem_oP7Cg9yhEf7CSZBHC_WZwQ

Your experiences, work, and communities are at the center of this project, and any level of participation matters. We look forward to hearing from you!

05/14/2026

🎉CFEVA’s Art Party Silent Auction + Art Sale launches TONIGHT!
Preview the auction now at tinyurl.com/cfevaartparty2026
📅 Bidding opens May 14 at 5 PM EST

Can’t make the Art Party on May 28? You can still bid + purchase online, from anywhere in the world!

Get ready to support CFEVA’s mission and score amazing items - art, experiences, and more - all while supporting CFEVA and the artists we serve.

Get ready to place your bids:
1. Visit https://lnkd.in/eA25Q4-J
2. Register with your email
3. “❤️ Like” your favorites in advance
4. Share with friends!
5. Make your bids starting on May 14 at 5 PM

Can’t attend Art Party in person? No problem - you can bid online from anywhere! 🌍 Bidding closes May 28 at 10 PM.

All items were generously donated to support artists and the arts. Your bids help fuel CFEVA’s mission to champion artists across the Philadelphia region.

For more event information and tickets, please visit cfeva.org/art-party.

05/11/2026

Through CFEVA’s NewCourtland Artist Fellowship, artists are bringing collaborative, hands-on workshops to senior communities across Philadelphia, fostering creativity, connection, and lifelong artistic practice.

This month, two new workshops kicked off! In Center City, Helen Driggs is guiding participants in weaving fabric baskets. In Germantown, Alana Walters is leading residents through mixed media printmaking. These intergenerational workshops celebrate art-making as a space for community, storytelling, and creative exchange, and we can’t wait to see what participants create this season.

05/05/2026

Join us for a FREE Artist Meetup at The Open Kitchen Sculpture Garden!

Calling all Philadelphia Artists and creatives! Join us at The Open Kitchen Sculpture Garden on May 19* for a free Artist meetup to kick off the summer season.

• Connect with Local Artists outdoors in the Garden!
• Register for the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST) at a discounted rate
• Learn about Building Sustainable Futures — a CFEVA initiative supporting sustainability pathways for Philadelphia visual artists.
• Drinks + Bites + Live Music + Good Vibes
• Enter to win 2 tickets to CFEVA’s Art Party) on May 28!

💌RSVP at cfeva.org/events

About The Open Kitchen Sculpture Garden (TOKSG)
TOKSG is a living-visionary project that seeks to initiate a movement of collaboration, education, and sustainability through the use of art and food. It is currently revitalizing and enhancing the Norris Square community, through the creation of an innovative and artistic gathering space that promotes unity and well-being. The essence of the project is simple yet profound; it’s process is organic and concrete, literally and metaphorically. It is transforming not only the physical space, but also stimulating and motivating individuals to engage with their environment. It is an example of a direct and simple solution that is accessible in any community, demonstrating what can be done when people come together to share talents, resources, and skills.

Not an Artist? No problem! Come hang out with us and engage with the creative community!

*Rain date: May 21, 5-8 PM.

phillyart

04/22/2026

Join us for a reception next week at the Science Center!

Sum of its Parts
Works by Lauren Sandler and Alana Walters

On View April 18-June 21
Reception Thursday, April 30, 5-7 PM.
Artist talks at 6 PM.
3600 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Please contact [email protected] for more information.

The exhibition features current CFEVA Fellows Lauren Sandler and Alana Walters. Linked by their attention to tactility, sense of place, and research-driven methods, this exhibition showcases two artists who investigate material, environment, and time across distinct media. Together, they construct tangible concepts and embody their exploration in their work. For more information about the exhibition, artists, and works for sale, please visit cfeva.org/exhibitions.

Lauren Sandler is a ceramic artist and educator based in Philadelphia. Her work examines the myriad chronicles told by objects as a means to explore stories that have been erased, distorted, and rewritten. Her recent work utilizes the vessel as an assemblage of parts, an accumulation of material culture to offer multiple perspectives. The work becomes a site to examine economies of power, migration and occupation, labor and commodification. Through this process disparate systems, forces, and ideologies converge as layered narratives combine in one form.

Alana Walters grew up in Lindenwold, New Jersey. During the beginning of fifth grade her family relocated to Philadelphia, PA where she currently lives and works. She struggled with her mental health in middle school which caused her to turn to her love of art making to escape. Bold bright colors and strong bold lines that overlapped each other consumed most of her early work. Alana has had work shown in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Washington State thus far. She has received awards from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and has been nominated for the Yale Norfolk Program. Currently she continues to work on defining her artistic practice and plans to go back to school to get a degree in art therapy.

Please visit cfeva.org/exhibitions for more details on both artists.

04/15/2026

Congratulations CFEVA Fellow Santiago Galeas on your upcoming solo exhibion at the Magic Gardens! We can’t wait to see the show opening this Friday. Check out the article below highlighting the exhibition, curated by CFEVA Alum Chelsey Luster!

https://epgn.com/2026/04/14/philadelphia-magic-gardens-santiago-galeas-entre-raices-y-alas/ itng

“Entre Raíces y Alas” (“Between Roots and Wings”), a new exhibition at Philadelphia Magic Gardens, centers q***r ideology and nature.

04/14/2026

Announcing the Next CFEVA Fellowship Exhibition

Sum of its Parts
Works by Lauren Sandler and Alana Walters

On View April 18-June 21
Reception Thursday, April 30, 5-7 PM.
Artist talks at 6 PM.
3600 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Please contact [email protected] for more information.

The exhibition features current CFEVA Fellows Lauren Sandler and Alana Walters. Linked by their attention to tactility, sense of place, and research-driven methods, this exhibition showcases two artists who investigate material, environment, and time across distinct media. Together, they construct tangible concepts and embody their exploration in their work. For more information about the exhibition, artists, and works for sale, please visit cfeva.org/exhibitions.

This CFEVA exhibition is in partnership with the Science Center.

Lauren Sandler is a ceramic artist and educator based in Philadelphia. Her work examines the myriad chronicles told by objects as a means to explore stories that have been erased, distorted, and rewritten. Her recent work utilizes the vessel as an assemblage of parts, an accumulation of material culture to offer multiple perspectives. The work becomes a site to examine economies of power, migration and occupation, labor and commodification. Through this process disparate systems, forces, and ideologies converge as layered narratives combine in one form.

Alana Walters grew up in Lindenwold, New Jersey. During the beginning of fifth grade her family relocated to Philadelphia, PA where she currently lives and works. She struggled with her mental health in middle school which caused her to turn to her love of art making to escape. Bold bright colors and strong bold lines that overlapped each other consumed most of her early work. Alana has had work shown in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Washington State thus far. She has received awards from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and has been nominated for the Yale Norfolk Program. Currently she continues to work on defining her artistic practice and plans to go back to school to get a degree in art therapy.

Please visit cfeva.org/exhibitions for more details on both artists.

04/13/2026

Tickets available now! 🎉

Join us for an unforgettable evening on May 28 celebrating local artists and the vibrant creative community. Celebrate local artists and art lovers while enjoying breathtaking skyline views, a lively silent auction and creative cocktails in a vibrant atmosphere.

This special night honors Ron Tarver, an acclaimed photographer, educator, and visual storyteller whose work has made a lasting impact on American photojournalism and fine art photography. We are proud to celebrate his remarkable career and enduring influence during this year’s Art Party fundraiser.

Tickets & sponsorships are available now at cfeva.org/art-party-2026

A special thank you to Morgan Lewis and Bockius for offering their space and catering to this event.