Over this past year, I’ve had the pleasure of celebrating, corresponding and zooming with the 2021 Student Prize Winners. Last summer, I met Allie Tsubota in Providence and she walked me through her studio at RISD.  Through these awards, I always feel like I learn so much about what the next generation is experiencing and thinking about. During our group zooms we discussed life after grad school, finding community, and mental health, amongst other subjects. I thought it would be important to have these artists share their thoughts and I so appreciate all who have participated. I wish them all the very best in their journeys. – Aline Smithson

Allie Tsubota

Follow Allie on Instagram: @aatsubo

©Allie Tsubota, Calf Heart (Archival inkjet print, 20”x16”) 2022

Congratulations on your outstanding work–it’s been such a pleasure to get to know you over this year. Two of you are graduating this year, but 5 of you have had a year untethered from a structured program. What has this year been like for you and what advice would you like to share with current students about life after or at the end of school?

It’s been such a pleasure, Aline! Life at the end of school…what chaos! Many folks will know that producing a thesis–whether graduate or undergraduate–can be a profoundly difficult and frustrating process that’s also deeply personal. Thesis year was a challenge for me. I felt I needed to reckon with how my work was being perceived and classified, and go through the growing pains of finding creative strategies that allow for the types of questions and curiosities I want to pursue and provoke. I also needed to contend with my inability to distinguish between my creative practice and my personal life. I really believe that what turned an immensely challenging year into a transformative one was the friendship and support of my cohort, fellow artists, and creative mentors. My advice to students preparing to finish school is to identify those who nourish you creatively, emotionally, and intellectually; invest in relationships and share generously with those around you. One of the wonderful quirks of the art world is that personal relationships are also professional ones; the social infrastructure of one’s creative and professional life is often built through dialogue with friends.

©Allie Tsubota, Persimmon Tree (Archival inkjet print, 30”x24”) 2021

©Allie Tsubota, Surrender Signing (Archival inkjet print, 20”x16”) 2022, reproduced courtesy National Archives

©Allie Tsubota, Dead Letter Room (Installation view, RISD Graduate Thesis Exhibition) 2022

Alayna N. Pernell

Follow Alayna on Instagram: @alaynapernell

©Alayna N. Pernell, All at Once, 2022

What has this year been like for you and what advice would you like to share with current students about life after or at the end of school?

This here has really been a whirlwind. I’ve had a lot of personal highs and lows. Though artistically/career wise I have been very blessed and fortunate to be doing what I have wanted to do for a very long time—being a photography instructor and sharing about this medium that I love dearly.

I just finished up my first academic year of teaching in the Photography & Imaging department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I also taught my first workshop with Photographer’s Green Book and TILT this recent spring. This September I’ll be teaching a workshop for the Colorado Photographic Arts Center (CPAC). Most importantly, I am still a practicing artist and every day I am working on my art in some capacity. I have also been fortunate and grateful to have several exhibitions and speaking engagements within the past year. I was selected as the Museum of Contemporary Photography’s 2021 Snider Prize Recipient which was, and still is, really huge. Needless to say, I have been extremely busy since graduating from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago last year (2021), but I can’t imagine myself doing anything else. As an added note, no worries—I make plenty of time for self-care and rejuvenation.

If I had to share any advice with current students about life after school, it would be to first allow yourself to feel everything that you need to feel. Honestly, post-grad depression is very real, and it can often leave people (myself included) feeling quite lost and confused during that period. I went through it all, but I came out on the other side, so here are some more tips that I learned along the way and that helped me get through this period:

1. Be patient with yourself while in the unknown while seeking out opportunities.
2. Make sure to have people around you who care about your dreams and goals and remove the leeches (aka, people who don’t support your dreams and goals) if need be.
3. Do your best to commit any time to your practice that you can and seek inspiration to keep your fire lit. Inspiration could come from watching a documentary, visiting an art gallery, attending artist lectures, etc.
4. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people who have been through what you’re experiencing. If you don’t know anyone, reach out to me!

What have been the greatest hurdles to keep making work and staying motivated?

I mentioned earlier that I have had a lot of personal lows and that has been my greatest hurdle many times. I’ll refrain from being an over-sharer (for today), but my mental and emotional state really prevented me from creating several times over the past year. It’s not that I didn’t want to create—trust me, I did. It’s just that I didn’t have the space to do so, and I would have emotional break downs and cry for days at a time because of this compiled with other life struggles I was (and have been) experiencing.

What helped me get past this hurdle many times were a combination of the tips above, along with the following: therapy, listening to artist talks, reading ARTNews every single morning, visiting art museums and galleries, looking through my collection of photo books, spending time in nature, going on walks, writing down my goals, rereading my old artist statements and things that I’ve written about my work. These are all the things that continue to help me to this day and I’m sure the list will evolve overtime. Reusing a phrase I mentioned before, they keep my fire lit.

©Alayna N. Pernell, Celebrating No Sue of Side, 2022

What successes have you had this year that have been meaningful?

The largest success that I’ve experienced was being the 2021 MoCP Snider Prize recipient. That was the moment where I felt like my career was just beginning despite being a photographer since I was a sophomore in undergrad at The University of Alabama. I vividly remember walking down the street heading back to my apartment while holding Taco Bell when I found out I was selected. My mind was blown then and it’s still mind-blowing to me even now. I’ll always be grateful for that recognition and for the MoCP and Snider family for supporting my work.

One other huge success for me has been my ability to find a system of living that works for me. When I first started teaching at UWM, I didn’t have balance in my life. I was neglecting my art practice and myself and giving every single ounce of my being to teaching which is not healthy, and that hurt me deeply. Though now, within this year alone, I’ve learned to create a balanced life that works for me, and it leaves me a lot of space to dedicate ample time to my practice and myself as a human being.

What kind of support would help emerging photographers?

I think it’s important to first make sure that you are being supported by people who care about your goals and dreams and want to see you succeed and do well. You must really be careful not to have people around you who only support you when you do well, but are nowhere to be found when you’re in a rest period in your practice.

It’s also important to get connected in some way with different photography organizations and platforms (including here on Lenscratch), apply to open calls and various other opportunities, have conversations with other photographers, and attend workshops and artist lectures when you can. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to people regardless of where they are at in their career. The worst thing that can happen is that either won’t respond or they’ll say no to speaking with you. Neither of those options are the end of the world, so put yourself out there!

I would also encourage you to create what you love/care about and keep building upon that. A word of advice I tell my students all the time: if you care about your work, other people will, but if you don’t care about what you’re making, why should anyone else?

Any particular strategies you have successfully used to get your work out or connect with editors or curators?

One of the main strategies that I have is applying to any and everything, even if I feel like I’m not qualified and really putting myself out there as much as possible. I have received many rejections, but I’ve also gotten some nice acceptances. All of this said, it’s always worth it to try. The worst that can be said is “no”, but it doesn’t mean that your work isn’t any less valuable. That can be a hard thought to fight (trust me, I’ve been there), but it’s true.

I would also say that being myself and doing my best to talk to editors and curators at any events (in person or virtually) has also been a strategy I’ve been using more lately. I struggle with anxiety/social anxiety, so I can’t say that I’ve perfected this. Though the times that I have tried, it’s worked out very well.

©Alayna N. Pernell, Onceal and Fell

What’s next for you?

I’m at this point in my career where I’m questioning what’s next for me as well, but I do have a combination of things that I am doing and things I would like to do next:

1. I’ve been working behind the scenes on a new body of work for a while (All of the Good Days: Unfinished Notes from a Healing Heart), and that has brought me a lot of joy and heartache. My hope is that by next year I will begin exhibiting this work and sharing it with the world. I am also being very strategic with this body of work because I have wanted to publish an artist book for a really long time, and I’m manifesting that I will be able to do that with this work no matter how long it will take.
2. I have exhibitions planned and solidified for 2023 which is super exciting as well, so stay on the lookout for that.
3. I’m still working on my restorative justice work and I’m embracing that it’s going to take me a long time to “complete” which is completely fine with me because I don’t like to rush anything. Thankfully, I have been receiving help and advice (shout out to Rachel Dobson for being my listening ear recently), so I’m not in this alone.
4. I would love to participate in an artist residency (preferably outside of the US) because I’ve never been accepted into one and would love to have that experience.

In the meantime, I’m just enjoying being in this space of creating a new body of work and enjoying the stillness in my life.

Andre Ramos-Woodard

Follow Andre on Instagram: @andreduane

©Andre Ramos-Woodard authenticity (2 Chainz), 2022, Digital illustration, colored pencil, and pastel on inkjet print

Congratulations on your outstanding work–it’s been such a pleasure to get to know you over this year. Two of you are graduating this year, but 5 of you have had a year untethered from a structured program. What has this year been like for you and what advice would you like to share with current students about life after or at the end of school?

Aaawe, thank you!! It’s really been a pleasure to work with y’all at Lenscratch. ❤️

Sheeeesh, I can’t lie; it’s been rough… Post-graduate depression ain’t no joke. Even though I have a lot of qualms with institutionalized learning, I miss the structure that came with it. I no longer have obligatory meetings with other artists to share and talk about the work I’m doing, so it can be hard to stay motivated. All I can really say is do not give up—place yourself around homies that wanna make and experience art. Look for local openings and get your ass out there. Keep making things even when you don’t know what to make. Just do shit!!

What have been the greatest hurdles to keep making work and staying motivated?

It’s been incredibly difficult to keep making work while having to do whatever the hell “normal” adults are supposed to do to be successful in our capitalist society. Like, on top of not being around anyone who can tell me if what I’m making is a little funky or not, I’m supposed to make work AND find a well paying full-time job? Not to mention, a job with insurance that makes me happy??? Shit’s wild.

What successes have you had this year that have been meaningful?

Welp, I had my work collected by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, which is the first museum that’s collected my work. I got to do a mixed-media mural there as part of their “Interventions” show, which is the biggest piece I’ve had in a show to date! I’ve also had solo shows at two cool places this past year—Kansas City Arts Coalition in Kansas City, Missouri, and Leon Gallery in Denver, Colorado.

Oh, and I got my “big adult” job, FINALLY. I just recently got hired at the Houston Center for Photography as their Exhibitions and Programs Coordinator, and yo, I’m so happy to be working there. I’m actually working at a place that sustains my personal aspirations and love for art.

©Andre Ramos-Woodard, Air Gerald (BOOMSHAKALAKA), 2021, Digital illustration on digital photograph

What kind of support would help emerging photographers?

Gosh… I don’t even know sometimes. My first thought is for more curators and people with some sort of pull actively looking for unrecognized talent, right? Let’s push a new narrative forward. More calls to showcase artists without gallery representation. More calls for work from underrepresented and marginalized artist communities. Oh, and give ‘em something that’ll stick! Not just “exposure”. Things like time, space, and money can really alleviate some of the pressures that come with existing, and that helps artists crank out good work.

Any particular strategies you have successfully used to get your work out or connect with editors or curators?

Honestly, I just kept putting my work out there and that in itself led to other opportunities. That’s my biggest recommendation; look for opportunities that make sense for your work. Find calls, curators, and jurors who you think actually vibe with the things that you’re doing and put your work in front of them.

What’s next for you?

I’m about to move to Houston with my hubby and our dog, so hopefully once I’m a little more grounded I can make some work again! I have a show coming up later this year in Houston, so it’s time for me to make some new stuff.

Chantal Lesley
Follow Chantal on Instagram: @chantallesley

©Chantal Lesley, A Piece of Hay in a Stack of Needles

Congratulations on your outstanding work–it’s been such a pleasure to get to know you over this year. Two of you are graduating this year, but 5 of you have had a year untethered from a structured program. What has this year been like for you and what advice would you like to share with current students about life after or at the end of school?

For me, this has been a year of transition and growth. I’ve simultaneously had a lot of success and setbacks, so I’ve been working on staying in a balanced mindset. It has been difficult to not have the structure and community of school. I’m definitely someone who thrives creatively being surrounded by other people and their energy, even though my work is autobiographical, I still find inspiration and drive from interacting with others.

Advice I’d like to share with current students coming to the end of school is to take time to celebrate yourself and rest, you deserve it! Art school is no easy feat, and rest and reflection is definitely part of the creative process. Other advice I’d like to give is to stay in touch with your classmates, because they are part of your art community. It is so vital to keep in touch with people involved in the art world, because they understand you on a level that others don’t. I would also say to not be afraid to make things happen and forge your own path. If you see a gap in your art community, create what you need, there’s a big chance that others around you have the same need. I’ve been very impressed with projects that people I’ve graduated with have taken on such as building their own artist studios (Mothership Studios), and creating a monthly meet up for local artists. It’s inspired me to start considering how I want to help or create a community myself.

Finally I think it’s important to remain patient and trust the process. Of course hard work is still involved, but believe in yourself and in your work and eventually good things happen.

What have been the greatest hurdles to keep making work and staying motivated?

I would have to say not having access to a studio or a photo lab has been an obstacle for me in my momentum of making work. I have a lot of ideas and things I’d like to work on and experiment with, but don’t have the necessary tools at my disposal. So for now, my ideas live as sketches so I don’t forget the compositions, and I’ve refocused my goals for the remainder of this year to acquiring a studio space and collecting the tools I need to continue pursuing my art making. I’ve been fortunate to have received a grant that will help me with these goals, so I’m glad that I’ve been able to stay motivated in the meantime and look forward to making new work.

©Chantal Lesley, o(O)l(L)d(D)n(M)e(U)w(S)s(E)

What successes have you had this year that have been meaningful?

I started this year as a part time assistant at an artist’s studio. Which helped plant the seeds of how I’d like to set up my own studio one day, it was a helpful experience that helped me see what was possible for my own life, and has helped me to keep dreaming big.

I had my first residency experience at LATITUDE in Chicago, IL in May of this year. This experience was pivotal to my art practice as it completely transformed the way I see images, and the way I want to create images moving forward. I learned how to print on fabric, and how to make image transfers, which made me feel limitless as an artist and I’m really excited to continue experimenting with these processes moving forward. Inviting fabric into my work has been monumental, fabric is always moving and is very malleable and adaptable, which I find to be a metaphor for the immigrant experience.

My residency also gave me the space to talk about my project En Medio de la Nostalgia, and meet with artists and curators local to the Chicago art scene. I truly felt embraced by the city in a way I have never felt before, and it helped reinvigorate my love for art making during a relatively tough year. I was reminded that my perspective is important and that my and my family’s stories deserve to be told and heard.

Another success that I am incredibly proud of is my first solo exhibition that has just opened up in July and will be showing until September in the Julia C. Butridge Gallery at the Dougherty Arts Center in Austin, TX. It feels incredible to see my work on a gallery wall after it existed purely digitally since my project started in 2020.

©Chantal Lesley, Recycling Rainwater

What kind of support would help emerging photographers?

I’m not sure what the solution is, but it feels very jarring to be completely cut off of resources after graduation, and acquiring them yourself is difficult and costly. If I had not had the opportunity to print my work at LATITUDE, there was no way I would have been able to make my solo exhibition possible, I would not have been able to afford it. I also personally always crave community, and as I have started experimenting and diving into mediums I’m not familiar with, it has been great to reach out to other art friends and ask for their opinions and problem solve together. And maybe I haven’t found them yet, but it would be great if there were more opportunities that were geared specifically to emerging artists.

Any particular strategies you have successfully used to get your work out or connect with editors or curators?

LATITUDE was amazing at connecting me with curators that I have been fortunate to keep in touch with. Every time I meet a curator, I ask if I can add them to my contact list for my newsletter so that they are able to keep up with me. Otherwise, honestly, Instagram is one of the biggest tools I use. I always keep my eyes out for open calls there and keep them in a saved folder and update my calendar so that I never miss a deadline, and I’m not afraid to reach out to anyone to quickly mention that I love their work and if they’re open to having a virtual chat with me. It’s helped forge some great friendships and to be able to find artists that I can relate to.

©Chantal Lesley, The Realist

What’s next for you?

I don’t think En Medio de la Nostalgia is entirely finished, but I’m ready to put a pause on it and work on other things. I’d love to see it be a book one day, so that is a dream that I’ll continue to slowly work on. I’ve applied to several residencies, grants, and opportunities to exhibit my work to help further my practice and accomplish my goals, so I’m confident that good things are on the horizon. As I mentioned before, I am hopeful that I can have my own studio space by the end of the year, so that I can make new work and continue to experiment with and push my practice. Other than that I’m looking forward to some travel with friends, and continuing my personal growth.

Lois Bielefeld
Follow Lois on Instagram: @loisbielefeld

©Lois Bielefeld, Alex, Kat, Que’Marion, Shannon, and Hadley, 2021, from New Domesticity series

What have been the greatest hurdles to keep making work and staying motivated?

Honestly, it’s figuring out the right balance between making a living and pursuing my practice. There was a luxury to having a 2-year grad school break from my commercial career to focus on making. Now finding the energy to juggle both again seems harder somehow than it was previous to grad school and the pandemic. Also, project funding has been a huge hurdle to overcome.

What successes have you had this year that have been meaningful?

This has been an exciting year for me exhibition-wise. Thank you Jesus, for what you are going to do, a video work about my mother’s daily plank practice while reciting her Bible memory verses, was accepted into the Outwin American Portraiture Today triennial and is on view at the National Portrait Gallery in DC until February. I also finally had a postponed exhibition open at the James Watrous Gallery showing my New Domesticitywork. I made 33 new portraits for the series in February and March on a photo road trip. I have just a few more portraits to complete and then I’ll be done with the series which will feel like an immense accomplishment.

©Lois Bielefeld, Daniel

What kind of support would help emerging photographers?

Financial support to fund projects and work. Help with networking and connecting to institutions/galleries. And professional practices development resources.

Any particular strategies you have successfully used to get your work out or connect with editors or curators?

This is the continual question I’m trying to figure out and solve. I have done a few photo festivals to varying degrees of success… I continue to slowly build up my newsletter audience and share out what I’m working on. I also try to network with artists and curators I do know to meet curators. I also apply to shows that have specific jurors I want my work to get in front of. Sometimes things seem to stick or happen but it seems to be a slow build.

©Lois Bielefeld, Leo and Michae

What’s next for you?

I’m heading to a 2-week residency at ACRE at the end of August where I’m excited to make new work. I also just started a new commercial photography job photographing product which is a huge shift from my commercial on-figure career. This is invigorating to me as I am thinking more about things and thing-power right now. Lastly, I’m also the program director at Milwaukee Artist Resource Network heading up a year-long mentorship program, and am excited to connect emerging and established artists.
Image Titles:All work from New Domesticity seriesAlex, Kat, Que’Marion, Shannon, and Hadley. 2021Leo and Michael. 2022Daniel. 2022

Vanessa Leroy
Follow Vanessa on Instagram: @vanessaleroyphoto

©Vanessa Leroy

Congratulations on your outstanding work–it’s been such a pleasure to get to know you over this year. Two of you are graduating this year, but 5 of you have had a year untethered from a structured program. What has this year been like for you and what advice would you like to share with current students about life after or at the end of school?

It has been a year since I graduated from MassArt, and at first I was nervous about not being in a structured art making environment. What I’ve learned during this time is that what’s important above all is experiencing life, prioritizing rest, and not overworking myself (still working on this last part…). As a result, inspiration flows to me organically (albeit rarely), and I’ve become okay with the long periods of time that pass before new images are made for my personal projects.

For current students, think about what you want to gain from your degree and make sure you’re getting everything you need out of your experience so that you can leave feeling fulfilled and motivated to go forth into the world. This is the incubation period, make it yours!

What have been the greatest hurdles to keep making work and staying motivated?

The greatest hurdle has been burnout. It’s incredibly important to move at a slower pace through this life, but of course with the way our world is set up that is typically impossible if you’re trying to make ends meet or finish school. So, I’ve begun to incorporate more moments of silence and meditation into my routine so that I can feel less overwhelmed by it all. It can be as short as needed, but actively trying things to help me remain grounded and in tune with myself has allowed me to not get completely drained.

©Vanessa Leroy

What successes have you had this year that have been meaningful?

This year I became a full-time freelance photographer and photo editing intern at NPR. I got my first New York Times assignment in February of this year and it’s been forward momentum since then in terms of entering the photojournalism industry, and I couldn’t be more grateful for every phone call with an assignment opportunity and each accepted pitch. Additionally, I’m so proud of being able to further my goal of becoming a photo editor with this NPR internship, where I have learned and been allowed to do so much in my role.

©Vanessa Leroy

Any particular strategies you have successfully used to get your work out or connect with editors or curators?

Put yourself out there fully. Send out emails to photo editors/curators that work on stories/exhibitions that resonate with you, introduce yourself with your portfolio, and talk about what you’d like to work on. Make sure your website is up to date, with your location and/or phone number clearly visible on your website, and make sure it’s well organized. Share your work on Instagram if you have one, and don’t worry about likes one bit, just keep sharing what you’re working on so that your unique point of view can be seen. It’s important to be your biggest cheerleader, so you must advocate for yourself by believing in your work, sharing it, and seeking out opportunities that will lead to accomplishing your goals and fulfilling your creative dreams!

©Vanessa Leroy