Where artists thrive: Artful ATL makes space for Atlanta’s creative future

George and Esohe Galbreath at a Galbreath Collection event unveiling a new Kevin Cole piece George and Esohe Galbreath have been deeply embedded in Atlanta s creative fabric for years as educators artists and custom workers Through their personal Galbreath Collection a living growing archive of Black contemporary art they ve championed emerging voices while modeling what it looks like to collect with care and intention With their latest endeavor Artful ATL a new one-day event debuting at Atlanta Contemporary they are building something unique A space that centers emerging artists and new collectors alike We sat down to talk about how Artful came to be why it matters and what they hope visitors take away from the experience So countless people in Atlanta love art but feel shut out of the gallery world We required to break down that barrier No intimidation No gatekeeping George Esohe Galbreath Artful ATL Co-FounderSherri What exactly is Artful ATL Esohe It s a one-day visual art experience showcasing a few of the preponderance exciting emerging artists in Atlanta Painters photographers sculptors illustrators you ll find them all in one room We desired to create an event that feels celebratory not transactional George It s about connection We re inviting people to discover new artists have real conversations and if something resonates start or expand their art collection And the best part Every dollar from art sales goes directly to the artists Sherri What inspired you to create Artful now Esohe We ve spent our careers in the classroom and in creative spaces teaching mentoring exhibiting But we kept noticing the same gap talented local artists with little access to collectors or commercial opportunities We required to change that George We were also thinking about the collector side So multiple people in Atlanta love art but feel shut out of the gallery world We yearned to break down that barrier No intimidation No gatekeeping Sherri How would you describe the vibe of the event George Alive Uplifting It s not a stiff gallery walk There s music cocktails conversation It feels more like a celebration than a sales floor Esohe And it s intimate The venue Atlanta Contemporary gives the event a sense of seriousness but it s still accessible Your ticket covers admission art activations parking and drinks It s about making people feel welcome Sherri What went into curating this first cohort of artists Esohe A lot of thought We needed artists who are not only technically skilled but also telling meaningful stories about identity heritage process or play There s a wide range of disciplines and perspectives George And several of them are educators themselves There s a shared commitment to public and development This is more than a show It s a platform Sherri What are you hoping people take away from this first Artful George For artists that their work is valuable and needed And for audiences that collecting art is within reach You don t need an MFA to know what moves you Come connect and if something speaks to you take it home Esohe This is also about legacy We want to build something that helps sustain creative careers in Atlanta not just for one night but over time Sherri How can the group advocacy Artful ATL beyond attending Esohe Spread the word Follow the artists Share the work And if you can t attend consider sponsoring a ticket or contributing toward artist help Every bit helps build momentum George This is just the beginning We re planting seeds now with the hope that Artful ATL becomes a cultural anchor in the city Artful ATL takes place Saturday June at Atlanta Contemporary Tickets and the full artist lineup are available at artfulatl org The post Where artists thrive Artful ATL makes space for Atlanta s creative future appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta