Rachel Gadson with
ILA Creative Studio

Bio:

Rachel Gadson was born and raised on the southside of Chicago. She has a strong attachment to the creative arts community and is a proud Chicagoan. She attended Florida A&M University where she attained her Bachelors in the field of Graphic Design (magna cum laude); and also studied design, photography, and animation at Studio Arts Center International, in Florence, Italy.

A combination of love for the creative arts industry, and a keen desire to empower artists (specifically artists of color) shapes the trajectory of Rachel’s career and it’s the same fire that keeps her propelling toward her goals. With a portfolio that spans across varying industries with clients like Jewel Osco, PNC Bank, Hilton, Samsung, and GitHub, Gadson now dedicates her time creating equitable access for more Black artists.

Through her work, she seeks to expand the narrative of how we begin to create more inclusive environments where the talents and works of Black artists are more visible, and the appreciation and love of our art is highly regarded.

About Dear Black Artists featuring the Seventy Sevens:

Dear Black Artists featuring the Seventy Sevens is a doc series project that began right before the pandemic and highlights 77 different artists in and around Chicago. We discuss their creative journeys, barriers to access, and their greatest hopes for Black artists in the future. During our residency, we'll host screenings centered around this project to help amplify the voices that contributed to bringing the 77's to life. Allowing the community and local art supporters to view different perspectives and ideas around what success and access for the Black artist looks like in present day. In addition to the screening, we'll have a panel discussion with 2-3 featured artists each session, followed by audience feedback and Q&A to allow further discourse around the content presented.

“As a southside native and resident, I especially want to continue to produce works relative to my community for my community. The basis for starting my organization (ILA Creative Studio) is to not only shine light on the value and importance of Black artists, but to also educate community members on the significance these creators add to our society. There are so many amazingly talented artists that exist right within our communities and to have space to amplify them and hopefully inspire the next generation would mean the world to me. As an organization committed to the exploration and expression of Black and Brown creators, it seems very fitting to align ourselves with Arts+Public Life. Not only is that a core part of our work, but it is also representative of this video project that features many artists born and raised on the southside of Chicago.”