Jonte Drew named Art Fair 14C’s Next Resident Artist

Art Fair 14C, an initiative of Art House Productions, has named Jonte Drew as its next Resident Artist. Created to expand opportunities for underserved area artists, this annual 6-month residency program is open to artists who recently completed an MFA. Drew is the inaugural artist selected for this residency. The previous residency, for an artist with a disability, was recently completed by Danielle Scott.

For six months starting on July 1, Drew will receive a 400 sq ft artist’s studio at Art 150 in Jersey City, NJ and a stipend of $1,000 for art supplies. Drew will also have the opportunity to exhibit his work at Art 150 throughout the residency and Art Fair 14C in November, and receive consultations and mentorship from arts professionals. Art 150 is located at 150 Bay Street in downtown Jersey City, two blocks from the Grove Street PATH station.

“Residencies can be transformative experiences for artists, and Art Fair 14C’s program gives emerging artists both a creative and a career boost,” says Robinson Holloway, the founder of Art Fair 14C and Board President of Art House Productions. “Although mentorship and career development assistance are helpful, the most important thing we can offer our residents is time and space to pursue their art. Being part of the community of artists at Art 150, and in Jersey City, is also a huge benefit of the residency.”

“Being the new resident at Art Fair 14C, during a transitional phase in my life, means so much to me,” says Jonte Drew. “I’m looking forward to challenging myself creatively and further developing my craft. I’m confident that the staff will assist me in my growth as an artist and individual.”

Jonte Drew is a visual artist from Paterson, New Jersey. He attended William Paterson University, where he received both a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2018 and a Master of Fine Arts in 2021. Jonte’s style is one that utilizes humor to investigate the shared experiences of African Americans in America, the commodification of urban culture and the conversations surrounding mental health. His paintings and drawings often feature himself and other Black individuals in the midst of colorful and idealized environments. In addition, he emphasizes the humanity of his subjects by placing them in various scenes of leisure and domesticity in their plight of finding serenity and joy, while challenging the critical portrayal of masculinity and physicality as it relates to the perception of Black men. www.jontedrew.com @JonteDrew 

Rita Jimenez and Heather Williams were also honored as finalists during this year’s submission process. 

Curators, galleries, and patrons interested in connecting with Drew should contact Robinson Holloway at robinson@arthouseproductions.org. To be added to the Art Fair 14C email list, please click here: http://eepurl.com/hlsGgP 

Art Fair 14C offers two 6-month residencies annually, for artists with disabilities and recent MFA graduates. Submissions for the Artist with a Disability Residency from January 1 to June 30, 2022 are expected to open in fall of 2021. There are no fees to apply. For more information visit artfair14c.com/residencies.