Hi community, friends, and art family—

As you all know, I am an artist and cosmic dreamer <3 now based between Philadelphia and Greater Baltimore. I’ve just been selected for a summer residency at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City for four weeks—an intensive, transformative program that brings together emerging and established artists to create, grow, and connect.

This opportunity is a chance to deepen my practice, expand my artistic network, and develop new work that continues to explore the themes at the heart of my art: womanhood, embodiment, diaspora, and the mythic energy fields we all move through.

But residencies—especially in NYC—come with real costs: housing, travel, materials, meals, and time away from paid work. I’m launching this GoFundMe to ask for your support in raising $5,000 to help cover those expenses. Every dollar brings me closer to fully embracing this opportunity and showing up for myself and my art.

In return, I’ll be sharing updates from the studio, behind-the-scenes looks at the new work, and special thank-you notes.

And if you have always wanted a painting, you can also check out my store on lusmerlin.com/store

If you’ve ever believed in me, seen something in my work, or just want to help an artist rise—now is the moment.

Thank you for reading, supporting, and spreading the word.