Chelsey Luster is a Philadelphia-based curator, educator, and visual artist from Baltimore, Maryland. Luster's visual art work explores the complexities of safe spaces in Queer and Black culture through mixed medium paintings and installations. Luster is a Vox Populi member and has recently taken part in the Mural Arts 2022 Black Artists Fellowship and the 2021 Center for Emerging Artists fellowship.
Luster is the Exhibition Manager at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens and has independently curated multiple art exhibitions with art institutions in Philadelphia including IceBox Project Space, Da Vinci Art Alliance, William Way LGBT+ Center, and the Center for Emerging Visual Artists.
Education:
2019 - Tyler School of Art, B.F.A., Painting and Drawing - Philadelphia, PA
2023 - Vermont Studio Center Residency Program - Johnson, VT
2022 - Mural Art Fellowship for Black Artists - Philadelphia, PA
2021 - Vox Populi Art Collective Member
2021 - Center For Emerging Visual Artist 2021 Fellowship - Philadelphia, PA
2020 - Katheryn Pannepacker Curatorial Fellowship - Philadelphia, PA
2019 - Chautauqua School of Art Residency Program, Chautauqua School of Art - Chautauqua, NY
Curated Exhibitions:
2023 - "Wildest Dreams: Works by Zeinab Diomande" at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Philadelphia
2023 - "In Unison: Ceramic Sculptures by George Rodriguez" at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Philadelphia
2023 - "Black Hair: Resistance, Freedom, and Beauty" at Icebox Project Space - Philadelphia
2023 - "Before the Storm: CFEVA Juried Exhibition" at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists - Philadelphia
2023 - "Laying the Foundation: the Zagars' Lives in South Philadelphia" at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Philadelphia
2023 - "Art of Pleasure" at William Way LGBT Community Center - Philadelphia
2023 - "All the Right Places: Works by Rosa Leff" at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Philadelphia
2022- "When the Cracks Deepen: Works by Isaac Scott" at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Philadelphia
2022 - "In Between and All at Once: works by Chloe Luisa Pinero" at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Philadelphia
2022 - “We’re on the Move: Paintings by Ashanté Kindle & Khari Turner” at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens - Philadelphia
2022 - “When the Cracks Deepen: Works by Isaac Scott” at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens - Philadelphia
2022 - “Together Again: Mosaic Panels by Isaiah Zagar” at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens - Philadelphia PA
2022 - “Wading: When the Water Rises” at Vox Populi - Philadelphia, PA
2021 - “Queer Euphoria: “ at William Way Community Center - Philadelphia, PA
2021 - “Moving Forward When the World Stopped” at William Way Community Center - Philadelphia, PA
2021 - “Sanctuary: An Exploration of Queer Safe Havens” at Da Vinci Art Alliance - Philadelphia, PA
2019 - “19.5%: Women in Power & Politics” at Little Berlin Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
2019 - “Icy Pop Up: Art Market” at The Artwear Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
2018 - “Bond of Knowing” at Tyler School of Art Stella Elkins Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
Solo Exhibitions:
2023 - "Finding Home" at Vox Populi - Philadelphia, PA
2022 - “Finding Home” at One for All - Philadelphia, PA
2022 - "Sacred Spaces" at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists
2022 - “Best Practices” at Vox Populi - Philadelphia, PA
2019 - “Unveiling” at Tyler School of Art Stella Elkins Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
2018 - “Chelsey Luster Featured Artist” at 11th Hour Theatre Company at The Drake Theater - Philadelphia, PA
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2023 - "The Portrait of the Artists...And Other Things" at Gross McCleaf Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
2023 - "CFEVA Art Party" at Moore College of Art - Philadelphia, PA
2022 - "No Space Between" at Mural Arts Gallery (1600 Market Street) - Philadelphia, PA
2022 - "Vox Populi Members Pop-up" at Vox Populi - Philadelphia, PA
2021 - “Odyssey of the Black Spirit” Tennessee Valley Art Museum - Tuscumbia, AL
2021 - “The Spaces We Carry” Cade Gallery AACC - Philadelphia, PA
2021 - “HerStory” Leadership & Art Coalition - New York, NY
2020 - “Tenses: Queer Bodies Through Time” - Philadelphia, PA
2020 - “Freedom Philly” National Liberty Museum - Philadelphia, PA
2020 - “Black Lives Matter” Moody Jones Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
2020 - “Transform” Da Vinci Art Alliance - Philadelphia, PA
2020 - “For the Culture” - Miami, FL
2019 - “14th Annual Juried Exhibition” William Way Community Center - Philadelphia, PA
2019 - “215 | 610 CONTEMPORARY: Juried Exhibition of Regional Emerging Artists” -
Delaware County Community College - Media, PA
2019 - “Art and Sound” at Our House Community Center - Germantown, PA
2019 - “Transform” at Painted Bride Art Center - Philadelphia, PA
2019 - “Selections: Composition, Content, Form” at Aramark Partner Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
2019 - “There’s Nothing Else to Call Them” at Kitchen Table Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
Honors and Awards:
2019 - Best in Show - William Way Community Center - Philadelphia, PA
2019 - The Senior Painting Award - Tyler School of Art - Philadelphia, PA
2018 - Dean’s Grant - Tyler School of Art - Philadelphia, PA
Luster is the Exhibition Manager at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens and has independently curated multiple art exhibitions with art institutions in Philadelphia including IceBox Project Space, Da Vinci Art Alliance, William Way LGBT+ Center, and the Center for Emerging Visual Artists.
Education:
2019 - Tyler School of Art, B.F.A., Painting and Drawing - Philadelphia, PA
2023 - Vermont Studio Center Residency Program - Johnson, VT
2022 - Mural Art Fellowship for Black Artists - Philadelphia, PA
2021 - Vox Populi Art Collective Member
2021 - Center For Emerging Visual Artist 2021 Fellowship - Philadelphia, PA
2020 - Katheryn Pannepacker Curatorial Fellowship - Philadelphia, PA
2019 - Chautauqua School of Art Residency Program, Chautauqua School of Art - Chautauqua, NY
Curated Exhibitions:
2023 - "Wildest Dreams: Works by Zeinab Diomande" at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Philadelphia
2023 - "In Unison: Ceramic Sculptures by George Rodriguez" at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Philadelphia
2023 - "Black Hair: Resistance, Freedom, and Beauty" at Icebox Project Space - Philadelphia
2023 - "Before the Storm: CFEVA Juried Exhibition" at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists - Philadelphia
2023 - "Laying the Foundation: the Zagars' Lives in South Philadelphia" at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Philadelphia
2023 - "Art of Pleasure" at William Way LGBT Community Center - Philadelphia
2023 - "All the Right Places: Works by Rosa Leff" at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Philadelphia
2022- "When the Cracks Deepen: Works by Isaac Scott" at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Philadelphia
2022 - "In Between and All at Once: works by Chloe Luisa Pinero" at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens - Philadelphia
2022 - “We’re on the Move: Paintings by Ashanté Kindle & Khari Turner” at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens - Philadelphia
2022 - “When the Cracks Deepen: Works by Isaac Scott” at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens - Philadelphia
2022 - “Together Again: Mosaic Panels by Isaiah Zagar” at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens - Philadelphia PA
2022 - “Wading: When the Water Rises” at Vox Populi - Philadelphia, PA
2021 - “Queer Euphoria: “ at William Way Community Center - Philadelphia, PA
2021 - “Moving Forward When the World Stopped” at William Way Community Center - Philadelphia, PA
2021 - “Sanctuary: An Exploration of Queer Safe Havens” at Da Vinci Art Alliance - Philadelphia, PA
2019 - “19.5%: Women in Power & Politics” at Little Berlin Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
2019 - “Icy Pop Up: Art Market” at The Artwear Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
2018 - “Bond of Knowing” at Tyler School of Art Stella Elkins Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
Solo Exhibitions:
2023 - "Finding Home" at Vox Populi - Philadelphia, PA
2022 - “Finding Home” at One for All - Philadelphia, PA
2022 - "Sacred Spaces" at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists
2022 - “Best Practices” at Vox Populi - Philadelphia, PA
2019 - “Unveiling” at Tyler School of Art Stella Elkins Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
2018 - “Chelsey Luster Featured Artist” at 11th Hour Theatre Company at The Drake Theater - Philadelphia, PA
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2023 - "The Portrait of the Artists...And Other Things" at Gross McCleaf Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
2023 - "CFEVA Art Party" at Moore College of Art - Philadelphia, PA
2022 - "No Space Between" at Mural Arts Gallery (1600 Market Street) - Philadelphia, PA
2022 - "Vox Populi Members Pop-up" at Vox Populi - Philadelphia, PA
2021 - “Odyssey of the Black Spirit” Tennessee Valley Art Museum - Tuscumbia, AL
2021 - “The Spaces We Carry” Cade Gallery AACC - Philadelphia, PA
2021 - “HerStory” Leadership & Art Coalition - New York, NY
2020 - “Tenses: Queer Bodies Through Time” - Philadelphia, PA
2020 - “Freedom Philly” National Liberty Museum - Philadelphia, PA
2020 - “Black Lives Matter” Moody Jones Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
2020 - “Transform” Da Vinci Art Alliance - Philadelphia, PA
2020 - “For the Culture” - Miami, FL
2019 - “14th Annual Juried Exhibition” William Way Community Center - Philadelphia, PA
2019 - “215 | 610 CONTEMPORARY: Juried Exhibition of Regional Emerging Artists” -
Delaware County Community College - Media, PA
2019 - “Art and Sound” at Our House Community Center - Germantown, PA
2019 - “Transform” at Painted Bride Art Center - Philadelphia, PA
2019 - “Selections: Composition, Content, Form” at Aramark Partner Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
2019 - “There’s Nothing Else to Call Them” at Kitchen Table Gallery - Philadelphia, PA
Honors and Awards:
2019 - Best in Show - William Way Community Center - Philadelphia, PA
2019 - The Senior Painting Award - Tyler School of Art - Philadelphia, PA
2018 - Dean’s Grant - Tyler School of Art - Philadelphia, PA
