The nonprofit incubator for emerging artists has reserved roughly a quarter of all future residencies at 4 World Trade Center for artists who have spent time in prison

New York, February 2, 2022 – Today, Silver Art Projects announces its expanded commitment to the formerly incarcerated by dedicating nearly a quarter of all residency spaces to artists who were once inside the U.S. prison system.

Founded in 2018 by Cory Silverstein and Joshua Pulman, Silver Art Projects is upending a culture of inequality in arts patronage by providing free studio space at 4 World Trade Center and mentorship to artists whose work is making strides in social justice. By reserving up to five spaces in its yearly residency program to formerly incarcerated artists, the nonprofit aims to amplify the voices of this population, which are so often disregarded and undervalued. This follows a recent grant awarded to Silver Art Projects in December 2021 by the Art for Justice Fund, which seeks to end mass incarceration in the U.S. through arts advocacy.

Currently in residence at Silver Art Projects studios at 4 World Trade Center is Jared Owens, a self-taught multidisciplinary artist whose practice began during his 18-plus years in prison. Through his work in painting, sculpture and installation, he aims to bring awareness to the plight of the nearly 2.5 million people enmeshed in the American carceral state. Owens’ work has been displayed in Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration at MoMA PS1 in New York (2021) and Rendering Justice at the African American Museum of Art in Philadelphia (2021).

“At Silver Art Projects, we are committed to evening the playing field for overlooked, underrepresented artists in the global art market,” said Joshua Pulman, Silver Art Projects Cofounder. “We are proud to support formerly incarcerated artists in the important work they do and look forward to welcoming our next cohort this year.”

Applications for Silver Art Projects’ 2022–2023 residency program will open in April. More details to come.

Contact:
Lauren Cody, Sutton
E: lauren@suttoncomms.com T: 1 212 202 3402

About Silver Art Projects:
Silver Art Projects is a non-profit organization that supports, incubates and accelerates overlooked artists by providing free, year-long studio space at 4 World Trade Center, community-driven patronage and career- focused mentorship designed to enable artists to conduct sustainable business practices. Founded in response to existing models of art patronage that perpetuate a culture of inequality in which artists not represented by large galleries enter a cycle of disadvantage by not receiving business support, Silver Art Projects helps artists build strong thriving practices while also contributing to the creative energy of Lower Manhattan. Silver Art Projects was founded in 2018 by Cory Silverstein and Joshua Pulman. www.silverart.com
@silverartprojects

About The Art for Justice Fund:
The Art for Justice Fund was founded in 2017 by Agnes Gund in partnership with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and the Ford Foundation to end mass incarceration in the United States and the racism that drives it. The initiative, which will conclude in 2023, has already disbursed close to $100 million to radically reimagine and build a future of shared safety for all. To date, Art for Justice has made grants to 200-plus artists, advocates and organizations that are transforming the criminal legal system.

https://artforjusticefund.org/ @Art4JusticeFund