Overview
The LIFT Collective celebrates the remarkable talents of the artists who have participated in the James Weldon Johnson Foundation’s renowned Artist Residency Program. This curated collection showcases a diverse range of work. Each piece, whether an original artwork, limited edition giclée print, photograph, piece of fine jewelry, book, sculpture or mixed media, embodies the dynamic creativity, resilience, and profound insight of the artists, echoing the enduring values of social equity, cultural reflection, and creative expression that James Weldon Johnson himself championed.
We are proud to feature and support these talented artists, whose contributions enrich both the cultural landscape and our shared understanding of the world. The LIFT Collective demonstrates the transformative power of art in bridging communities and inspiring change.
The LIFT Collective
Presenting art inspired by these times
By the James Weldon Johnson Fellows-in-the-Arts 2017-2019
Originals, Limited Edition Giclee Prints, Photography, Fine Jewelry, Books, Metal Works
Doris Ulmann, Photograph of James Weldon Johnson, circa 1925. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
“ I will not allow one prejudiced person or one million or one hundred million to blight my life. I will not let prejudice or any of its attendant humiliations and injustices bear me down to spiritual defeat. My inner life is mine, and I shall defend and maintain its integrity against all the powers of hell.”
—James Weldon Johnson, NAACP Pamphlet, 1916