Flourish Art Accelerator is a BIPOC-led organization founded to create a more inclusive world through strategic investment in diverse creatives. We envision a world in which BIPOC creatives develop visual stories that tell their unique truths; preserve culture, achieve community empowerment,  and build entrepreneurial practices.

Donate Now

The Art World is Changing.

We are enabling its Innovation by investing in Diverse Creatives

The Art World is Changing.

We are enabling its Innovation by investing in Diverse Creatives

Flourish Art Accelerator is a BIPOC led organization founded to create a more inclusive world through strategic investment in diverse creatives. We envision a world in which BIPOC creatives are developing visual stories that tell their unique truths; preserve culture, achieve community empowerment,  while building their entrepreneurial practices.

Event Tickets
Donate Now

Helping to Grow Creatives

without limits

Introducing the 2025 Flourish Fellows

The Future of Fine Art Starts Here

Meet the 2025 Flourish Fellows — a dynamic group of emerging, Chicago-based artists whose work challenges, uplifts, and redefines the future of fine art. Selected for their bold vision and creative excellence, these Fellows represent the next generation of cultural leaders shaping the art world from the ground up.

Learn More
Donate Now

About Flourish

FLOURISH enhances diverse artists and curators by supplying direct financial resources, mentorship, and services to nurture creative growth. We collaborate with fine art museums, the business community, and art fairs, striving to create opportunities for underserved Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) creatives and promote diversity and inclusivity within the art world.

OpeN Call for Letters of Interest

Deadline EXTENDED: October 15Th, 2024

Program Guide

Growing Diverse Creatives

Through Direct Investment

Flourish-EXPO Chicago Fundrasier

We were thrilled to host over 200 attendees and spotlight the incredible talents of 5 BIPOC artists. Due to your overwhelming generosity, we raised over $40,000. Your support will allow us to further our mission by nurturing creativity and innovation within the arts community by investing directly into BIPOC creatives. Thank you to our sponsors, partners and community.

Group of seven people standing together indoors, smiling, with artwork on the wall behind them.
Two smiling women standing behind a table with glass decanters and cups, one wearing a patterned dress and the other in an orange top and white skirt, in a room with large windows and curtains.
Woman with long blonde hair, black glasses, and a black sleeveless top holding a bottle of Empress gin.
Two women standing behind a table with bottles of Uncle Nearest whiskey, glassware, and tasting shot glasses. One woman is wearing a black top, and the other has a white head wrap and brown jacket. They are smiling indoors near a window.
A woman with long dark hair, wearing earrings, holding a wine bottle in an art gallery or museum, with artwork and a black-and-white photograph in the background.
Group of people at an indoor social event, smiling and conversing, with a table in the foreground displaying water bottles and brochures. The background shows a colorful painting on the wall and a purple lighting overhead.
Three people engaged in conversation at an indoor event, with a woman in a pink suit and a man in a dark blazer in focus.
Two men are conversing at a wine tasting event. One is wearing a beige blazer, smiling and holding a drink. The other is in a gray shirt, holding a glass and a tray. Several wine bottles are displayed in front of them. The background shows other peop
Two men in suits are smiling and talking to each other at a social event. One man has gray hair and glasses, and the other is bald with glasses. Several women are in the background, engaged in conversations.
Two women smiling at a table with drinks, one holding a wine bottle, the other a small cup with greenery, in a warmly lit room.
A large indoor gathering with people socializing, some seated at tables with floral centerpieces, and others standing, in a modern venue with high ceilings and large screened wall.
Two women embracing closely and smiling in a warm, indoor setting, surrounded by other people.
People laughing and talking in a social setting, with one woman visible from behind and a man with gray hair and glasses smiling prominently.
People at a bar counter with drinks and bottles, bartender pouring drink, some customers talking and waiting, bottles of alcohol and soda on shelves.
A group of diverse adults socializing at an indoor event with dim lighting and purple accent lights. The focus is on three women engaged in conversation, with the background showing other attendees.
A man and woman smiling at an indoor event with people in the background.
A diverse group of eight people standing together at an art gallery or exhibition, smiling for the photo. Behind them is a large abstract tree artwork on the wall with green, orange, and brown colors, and purple accent lighting on the ceiling.
Four diverse adults smiling and posing with drinks in front of a colorful tree art installation on a white wall.
Group of six women smiling at an indoor event, some holding drinks, with a large decorative tree on the wall behind them and purple accent lighting in the background.
A man and woman dressed in formal attire smiling at a social event, each holding a glass of red wine.
Two women are conversing at an indoor event, one wearing a designer sweater with Gucci logo pattern and the other in a colorful, patterned dress. The woman in the dress is holding a glass and smiling, while the other woman is smiling and holding a be
Two men in suits are standing and laughing together at a social event. One man has a shaved head and a beard, while the other man is wearing glasses and a gray suit. They are looking at a magazine or brochure on a white table.
A diverse group of people gathered in an indoor event space, listening to a woman speaking with a microphone. The attendees are smiling, taking photos, and engaging. The room has modern decor with a large black-and-white photo on the wall and water b
A man speaking into a microphone in a room with beige chairs and artwork on the wall.
Three men seated on high chairs in a panel discussion or interview, with a large artwork of a woman's profile and a winged emblem in the background.
Six men sitting on chairs in an art gallery, participating in a panel discussion. Artwork is visible in the background.
Three men sitting on high stools participating in a panel discussion or interview, with large photographs of women in the background.
A smiling woman with short hair and glasses on her head, and a man with short curly hair, are standing close together at an indoor event with purple lighting in the background. The woman is wearing a black and white striped top, sunglasses on her hea
A diverse group of five people, three women and two men, standing together and smiling at an indoor event with a modern, minimalistic background.
Two men standing close together, one holding a glass of champagne, in an indoor setting with artwork and purple lighting in the background.
Two men stand close together at an indoor event. The man on the left is wearing a black suit and has short hair and a beard. The man on the right has curly hair, a goatee, and is wearing a light tan blazer with a black shirt. The background features
Group of musicians performing at an indoor event. Some are playing drums, and others are singing into microphones. The background features artwork on the wall.
A woman dancing in a red skirt and cream-colored top at a social gathering with many people seated and standing around, some taking photos, and drums on the left side of the image.
Six diverse people, five women and one man, standing together indoors in front of a decorative wall with a tree and green leaves, smiling for the camera.
A table setup with a bouquet of orange tulips in a vase, bottles of Uncle Nearest whiskey, a tray with shot glasses, informational flyers, disposable cups, and a sign for Uncle Nearest whiskey.
A woman with long blonde hair, wearing glasses, a black sleeveless top, and stacked bracelets, stands behind a table with various bottles of gin, glasses, and informational pamphlets at a gin tasting event inside a room with large windows. Behind her
A woman with dark hair styled at shoulder length, wearing a vibrant red one-shoulder dress with feather embellishments along the hem, smiling with her hand on her hip, in an indoor setting.
Three people engaged in conversation at an indoor social event, with a man in a light blazer and pink shirt speaking to a woman with curly blonde hair and a man in black with jewelry listening.
A group of six women posing together, smiling, at an indoor event, wearing colorful and patterned dresses.
Three women standing together, smiling at the camera at an indoor event. The woman on the left is wearing a colorful patterned shirt and green pants. The woman in the middle has dark hair, is wearing a white blouse and a silver necklace. The woman on
Group of five diverse adults posing at a social event or gathering, smiling, with blurred background.
A man and woman warmly greeting each other with a hug and smile at a social gathering, surrounded by other people.

Flourish Advisors & Mentors

our community

  • Black and white portrait of a smiling man in a suit.

    Marquis Miller

    Innovation and Museum Engagement

    in

  • A woman with glasses smiling in a black-and-white portrait

    Barbara Engelskirchen

    Communications and Fundraising

    in

  • Thomas Moore III

    Strategic Partnerships and Fundraising

    in

  • A woman with shoulder-length hair, glasses, and a big smile, looking directly at the camera.

    Monique Brinkman-Hill

    Artist Development and Community Engagement

    in

  • Black and white photo of a smiling man wearing a suit jacket and a shirt, with an American flag lapel pin.

    Billy Ocasio

    Equitable Funding and Partnerships

  • A man in a suit standing indoors, wearing a white shirt and a blazer, looking at the camera

    Bryan Perry

    Contracts and Licensing

    in

  • A woman with a short haircut and dark lipstick smiling at the camera, holding a bouquet of flowers.

    Daonne Huff

    Public Programs and Artist Development

    in

  • Black and white portrait of a man with a beard and short hair, wearing a blazer. He is looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

    BEN FITZGERALD

    Technology and Investments

    in

  • Close-up black and white photo of a man with short hair and beard, looking directly at the camera, wearing a light-colored shirt.

    Danny Dunson

    Curator and Storytelling

    in

  • Black and white portrait of a smiling man wearing a checked blazer over a collared shirt.

    CHADWICK GILES

    Marketing and Sales

    in

  • Man in a suit and tie smiling, outdoors in a black-and-white photo

    Curtis Young

    Entrepreneurship and Artist Development

    in

  • Black and white portrait of a woman smiling with shoulder-length hair, wearing a light-colored blazer and a dark top.

    Loren Johnson

    Strategy and Community Engagement

    in

  • Black and white professional headshot of a smiling man wearing a suit and tie.

    Michael Mcintosh

    Marketing Strategy and Technology Enablement

    in

partners

 

sponsors

 
A woman with curly hair is crouching on a large sheet of white paper, drawing black lines with a marker in a brightly lit room with large windows and artwork on the windowsill.
Donate

donate

FLOURISH is a non-profit organization. Pigment International Foundation is the fiscal sponsor. All contributions to FLOURISH are tax-deductible.

Contact US

Accomplishing our mission requires a collective effort. Connect with us on social media and share any inquiries or ideas you may have regarding Flourish. Whether you're interested in volunteering, making a donation, or seeking knowledge, we value your participation and are ready to hear and respond.

Contact US

Accomplishing our mission requires a collective effort. Connect with us on social media and share any inquiries or ideas you may have regarding Flourish. Whether you're interested in volunteering, making a donation, or seeking knowledge, we value your participation and are ready to hear and respond.

Please follow our founders’ journey to learn more about fine art created by people of color and the insights it provides into culture and identity

instagram @lowell.lennox

Calling All Chicago based BIPOC Artists & Curators Date: Saturday, October 12th, 2024 Time: 9 AM - 2 PM Location: 300 E. Randolph St., Suite 5000, Chicago, IL Join us for The Business of Art, a FREE training event hosted by Flourish Fine Art Ac
I used to think all of it was separate – the painting, the writing, the curating – but not any longer." – Glenn Ligon In the creative journey, every form of expression becomes intertwined, each piece of work enriching the oth
Calling All BIPOC Artists & Curators! Are you ready to take your art career to the next level? Join us for The Business of Art, a FREE training event hosted by Flourish Fine Art Accelerator Date: Saturday, October 12th, 2024 Time: 9 AM - 2 PM L
Calling all BIPOC Artists and Curators Flourish Art Accelerator presents a FREE TRAINING on the Business of Art—designed to support your growth as an entrepreneur. Join us for an insightful panel discussion and expert-led training to gain t
BIPOC creatives often face a challenging reality: being underfunded but over-mentored. While mentorship is important, what's truly needed is direct financial support and professional resources. Many BIPOC artists have the skills, vision, and drive, b