Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship

Above “Orlando at Piano in Seattle" Video Credit: Stevie Calandra

Pinder is currently in Washington, D.C. for the next couple of months to finish a video piece he’s developing for Smithsonian Artist Residency Fellowship.

Utilizing the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s collection of mid-20th century home videos of Black American families, the piece explores expressive joy found within the archived footage.

The Smithsonian has awarded fellowships to 14 accomplished visual artists from an international pool of candidates as part of the 2021 Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship Program. Over the course of a one- to two-month residency, each fellow will conduct research at Smithsonian museums and research centers to inform the development of innovative, cross-disciplinary work.

Artists are nominated by art curators, scholars and former fellows, and then selected by a panel of art experts. Over 100 artists from around the world have received Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship Awards since the program began in 2007.

Jefferson Pinder (Based in the U.S.): Black Nostalgia, Black Joy

Pinder will delve into archival films and materials documenting the everyday lives of Black Americans at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Pinder’s research will support a video artwork celebrating Black joy.