Chelsey Luster is a Philadelphia-based curator, visual artist and art educator from Baltimore, Maryland. Luster received their BFA from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture and attended a residency at Chautauqua School of Art. As a curator, Luster has organized multiple group exhibitions, was a Katheryn Pannepacker Curatorial Fellow at the Da Vinci Art Alliance, and is currently developing their curatorial practices as a Vox Populi member and Exhibition Manager at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens.
Luster's work centers itself around intimacy, vulnerability, and privacy through depictions of domestic spaces with a focus on the bathroom. The bathroom serves as a setting to explore queer black womanhood with regards to lack of privacy, invasion of the black queer body, power structures, and isolation.
Education:
2019 - Tyler School of Art, B.F.A., Painting and Drawing - 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:
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:
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:
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's work centers itself around intimacy, vulnerability, and privacy through depictions of domestic spaces with a focus on the bathroom. The bathroom serves as a setting to explore queer black womanhood with regards to lack of privacy, invasion of the black queer body, power structures, and isolation.
Education:
2019 - Tyler School of Art, B.F.A., Painting and Drawing - 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:
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:
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:
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
