We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rachel Gadson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I run a non-profit arts organization, and our company’s primary goal is to connect Black artists to resources that help to educate and elevate their individual purpose. I find that for many artists, having the skill and gift of art is less than half the battle, it’s accessibility, resources, and equitable pathways that help create sustainability. I believe deeply in the power of the arts, which is the meaning of the acronym of our name ILA ( I Love Art). But even more than my belief in the power of art, is the belief I have in how constructively positive outcomes would be if we were more intentional about uplifting and providing better support for under-resourced Black artists. I know firsthand how unjust this world can be to people who look like me; and in this knowing, instead of sitting in this unfortunate reality, I’ve decided to commit my work in helping to contribute to the advancement of Black artists. This promotes an outcome of generational healing, self-preservation, and social + cultural shifting; all efforts that I’m completely proud to contribute to.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

A combination of love for the creative arts industry, and a keen desire to empower artists (specifically artists of color) shapes the trajectory of my career and is the same fire that keeps me propelling toward my goals. With a graphic design portfolio that spans across varying industries with clients like Obama Foundation, Hilton, Samsung, Zoom and GitHub, I now dedicate my time creating access for Black artists.

My gifts to the world at present lie within two facets, 1. my bread: (what I love that pays me) and 2. butter: (what I love that serves others). With my bread, I create compelling visual stories through design, curation, or film, to help add contextual value and discourse around subjects that matter most to me. My butter is simply creating spaces to empower Black artists to connect, grow, and lead sustainable creative careers.

With a primary goal of connecting and providing resources to help Black artists reach new heights, I am committed to developing programs, experiences and concepts that are positive and intentional resources for this underrepresented
and undervalued community. As the founder of an organization that places Black artists at the forefront, and prioritizes the voices of my community, I get to create an atmosphere of equity and access with intention and sound direction; which is such a gratifying and fulfilling feeling.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think consistency has proven to show up more and more as a signal of trust for me. Most people want to count on your business as reliable support to whatever they are in need (or want) of. That said, the way in which we’ve remained consistent with our audience and ensuring that even if we’ve had to make slight pivots in our business structure or model, the foundation of the work we do is steady and can be trusted. With consistency comes commitment, and I believe most people want to feel that whoever is committed to serving them will do so with positive vigor and what’s most important genuine love and care.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

COVID-19 came in and completely restructured the way we were implementing our programs and events. We functioned primarily in-person pre-COVID and had to pivot how we connected with our community. From a leadership perspective, it was an invaluable lesson of learning how to think on your feet, and make the most out of what’s within your capacity, and that’s exactly what we did. We decided to use the almost 18-month period of distant engagement to develop ways to continue to resource our community with beneficial tools. From hosting virtual workshops, to developing a resource-sharing app, we realized that sharing resources does not always have to be an in-person exchange. COVID taught us that while there may be disadvantages to not being able to forge interpersonal connections, there was still power exchanged in virtual connections.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ilacreativestudio.com
• Instagram: @ilacreativestudio
• Facebook: ILA Creative Studio
• Linkedin: ILA Creative Studio
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpLrOlYraSg8PbG_dqeEHOw

Image Credits
Photos by Ashley Mia, MSI, Joel Maisonet