Join us for the Opening Reception June 14th 6-8pm, Sotheby's New York

A multimedia exhibition portraying the complex narratives of underrepresented youth, asking the world to see them as they choose to be seen.

Featuring works produced during the Art Start Emerging Artist Cohort from September 2022 - May 2023 in New York City and Milwaukee and works from the See Me Because Archives

In collaboration with Zackery Maxwell Stertz, Ken Pao, Heidi Gutman, Sara Stathas, CJ Foeckler, Nick Collura, Tann Services, Corner Studio, Pixelbox Studio, Anthony Giacomino, Jim McDonald, DCOY Studios, Gloss, Adriana Andaluz, Rebekah Calo, Jennifer Kessler, Maegan Rebecca, Emma Strachman, and Charles Zambrano.

Production Partners

Featured Photographers

Presenting Partner

See Me Because, Volume 11 New York

The second annual Art Saves Lives Benefit Concert brings together members of the Art Start community to share in an evening of music to celebrate both emerging and professional New York City performing artists, while raising much needed funding for Art Start programs. This year’s headliner is Rodrigo Amarante, joined by Spacecade7s, DJ Ayanna Heaven, Retro Starkey, and Miranda Joan!

The second annual Art Saves Lives Benefit Concert brings together members of the Art Start community to share in an evening of music!

Art Saves Lives Music Benefit

NYC - 526 W 26th St., Suite 10B, New York, NY 10001

MKE - 710 W Historic Mitchell St, Milwaukee, WI 53204 @ Mitchell Street Arts

In both New York City and Milwaukee we hold Monthly Creative Sessions as part of our Creative Connections program. Sessions can range in topics and activities, including photography, canvas stretching, creative writing, music, and more! Check back monthly to see what the upcoming session will be on.

Monthly Creative Sessions

Time

Location

Curated By

With Photographers

The Art Start Portrait Project is a multimedia exhibition and platform for Art Start youth to portray the complex narratives about their identities, asking the world to see them as they choose to be seen.

In spite of the pandemic, the 2020 project saw Art Start participants from Milwaukee and New York City. The portraits were exhibited in our first digital exhibition as well as an outdoor and gallery exhibitions.

Locations

With Partners

With Sponsors

"People would describe me as fun, loving, and happy. I walk into a room and it automatically smiles." - D'von, 2020 Art Start participant

The Art Start Portrait Project 2020

The 2019 project saw 10 Art Start participants In this volume displayed across 3 exhibitions. This iteration saw the beginning of installation learning where participants in the project learned to professionally curate and install a gallery exhibition.

 Terrell Frazier, Maurice Ivy-Dowell, Justice de los Santos, David Castillo, Dom Portis

: Maegan Rebecca, Emma Strachman, Kim White, Adriana Andaluz

"I want my portrait to show me in a group of people - a community that I created and became real because I believed in them. I believe in the impossible." - Antonio, 2019 Art Start participant

The Art Start Portrait Project 2019

The PEAK Initiative at Tiefenthaler Park: 2480 W Cherry St, Milwaukee, WI 53205


The SEE ME BECAUSE - The Art Start Portrait Project, Vol. 11 outdoor exhibition presents Art Start youth's self-determined voices and visions of how they wish to be seen, exhibited and activated in proud partnership with The Kellogg PEAK Initiative, that activates Milwaukee's Tiefenthaler Park with summer camps and community activities all year long.



Collaborating artists and professionals who helped bring the
2023 SEE ME BECAUSE exhibition to life include:


Nick Collura, CJ Foeckler, Heidi Gutman, Ken Pao, Sara Stathas, Zachary Maxwell Stertz, and media support by Palante Visuals.


The SEE ME BECAUSE: The Art Start Portrait Project Volume 11 is sponsored by 

MKE Rec in Partnership with the Arts & Humanities

New York City Department of Cultural Affairs

See Me Because, Volume 11 Milwaukee

The 2018 Art Start Portrait Project saw youth from Milwaukee and New York City participating and was exhibiting in 3 gallery locations across the country.

: Adriana Andaluz, Kim Goodwin, Maegan Rebecca, Emma Strachman

: DCOY Studios, Anthony Giacomino, Jim McDonald

"I want people to see me as a good person who, if somebody needs to talk to about anything or anything, they can just come up to me and talk to me." - Rene, 2018 Art Start participant

The Art Start Portrait Project 2018

The Art Start Family Portrait Project is a multimedia project and platform for the powerful stories, voices, and images of New York City families experiencing homelessness. Through portraits and story-telling, families invite the world to 

The 2018 project captured 30 families across 3 boroughs of New York City.

 Lucy Bidle, Mariama Noguera Devers, Danielle Quintanilla, Cynthia Ceilan, Mariam Aryai-Rivera, Cathia Ochoa, Stella Michael

: Adriana Andaluz, Yomarky Alvarez, Madeline Kawalek, Jenny Marin, Delina Median, Kim White

"The photo tells that we still have a lot to accomplish. We are on a mission. We are
growing." - The Glenn Family

The Art Start Family Portrait Project 2018

The 2017 project saw 10 Art Start participants In this volume, you will find the stories Cynthia Ceilan has crafted from interviews with the young people who participate in Art Start programs.

: Emma Strachman, Juliet Gaiser, Kim White, Alex LaMarsh, Marissa Masella, Adriana Andaluz

: Michelle Garcia, Nathan Martin, JP Herrera, Travis Joseph, Joshua Elan, Victor Prieto, Malaie Bonhomme

“Poetry gives me a chance to make my story alive.” -Shavonne, 2017 Art Start participant

The Art Start Portrait Project 2017

The 2015 project captured 16 Art Start families experiencing homelessness and who participate in Art Start's Creative Collectives Program. This iteration also introduced the support of Columbia Univeristy INCITE's Oral History Department.

 Denise Cermanski, Danny Coeyman, Terrell Frazier, Hannah Immerman, Nella Mupier, Mariama Noguera-Devers, Judith Sackoff, Julia Warren

: Paige Campbell, Alex LaMarsh, Emma Strachman, Adriana Andaluz

“This is who we are. We love each other. I’m strong, she’s strong. She’s my rock. I’m her rock." The Heyward Family

The Art Start Family Portrait Project 2015

West Chelsea Arts Building 508 West 26th Street 5G NYC

The 2014 project allowed 14 Art Start participants to use imagery, video and storytelling to self-determine how they choose to be seen.

 Sarah Barrett, Allegra Ben-Amotz, Rashida Bumbray, Rosa JH Berland, Annie Coreno, Nichole LeFebvre, Amanda McCormick, Ellen Neuborne, Judith Sackoff, Frank Santo, Nina Spierer, Alexandra Talty, Robbie Whalen

: Juliet Gaiser, Alex LaMarsh, Tomy Rivero, Emma Strachman, Kim White

: Suad Moises Fernandez, Ryan Hickey, Adrian Kozlow, Mauricio Quintero, William Ross, Shadi Yousefian

Curated by

Art Start presents: The 2014 Portrait Project, a process of defining, envisioning, and allowing our youth to actually see their images.

The Art Start Portrait Project 2014

The 2013 project captured almost 50 families portraits and worked with 3 locations serving families experiencing homelessness in New York City.

 Allegra Ben-Amotz, Echo Garrett, Jessica Rodriguez, Frank Santo, Nina Spierer, Linda Tagliaferro, Robbie Whelan

: Wenya Chang, Jane Choi, Alex LaMarsh, Juliet Jane, Emma Strachman, Rachel Weissman, Kim White, Elizabeth Yoon

With Partner

“Home is not four walls and a door. Home is built through love, passion and resiliency as a family unit."

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