It’s hard to imagine Illustrative Voices just turned two years old on July 8.
Having been inspired from the rise of Asian hate and attacks in 2019-20 to the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, Illustrative Voices was launched. What began as a virtual art exhibition that showcased roughly 30 artworks of my close friends and peers has evolved and developed into a thriving non-profit art education organization.
Screenshot of Illustrative Voices' inaugural social inequities and visions of social justice art exhibition Social (In)Justice and Compassion, virtual, July 8, 2020.
Since its inception during the summer of 2020, Illustrative Voices has become an artist community that continues to provide a more inclusive and effective platform for all to express themselves, to share their experiences of social inequities, and to express their vision of what social justice looks like.
We have hosted nearly one dozen art exhibitions featuring, supporting, and showcasing more than 100 artists and their personal narratives of social inequities and visions of social justice. We have served our Bay Area artist community through our workshops, and have distributed over 100 art kits to the Bay Area.
Concept logo and logotype designs, pencil on paper, 2020, by Jordan C. Fong
A special thank you to our talented team of artists Oscar Lopez (President & Creative Director), Jessica Fong (Treasurer & Community Outreach Coordinator), Michael Granville (Exhibitions Director), Anh Tran (Advocacy Director), and Russell Jensen (Recreational Therapy Director). Thank you all for joining me on this journey of creativity and giving back.
Lastly, I’d like to extend a personal “Mahalo Nui Loa” from the bottom of my heart to our Bay Area community, artists, and donors. Illustrative Voices wouldn’t be what it is today without your support. It is because of you that Illustrative Voices continues to serve and empower all to share their illustrative voice.