This month, G.A.S. Foundation is pleased to welcome Nina Gilbert and Savannah Woodson to G.A.S. Lagos for an eight-week internship, delivered in partnership with Spelman College and the Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective (AUC Collective). While this cohort joins us outside of the residency-based model, the initiative reflects our continued commitment to supporting the next generation of arts professionals through hands-on, work-based learning.
Nina and Savannah bring with them a strong foundation in the arts, shaped by interdisciplinary practices and a shared eagerness to engage with Lagos’ cultural environment. Over the course of their internship, they will work closely with the G.A.S. team to support core programmes and deepen their understanding of creative practice within the African context. While Nina will contribute to the forthcoming AAL Lab & Conference,Savan nah will support ongoing exhibition planning and development. Both interns are eager to gain practical experience, connect with local artists, and explore local museums and galleries. Through this, they hope to build on their academic training, strengthen their professional skills, and offer fresh perspectives on curatorial work within a global framework.
Book - Time for School, Time for School, It’s the First Day - by ELON, Illustrated by Nina Gilbert. Image courtesy of the artist.
What is the current focus of your practice?
Nina: My current focus surrounds filed research in reference to my thesis; while I am a practicing artist my craft is interdisciplinary — I aim to strengthen my career as an art historian while illustrating the world around me.
Savannah: Inspired by the vitality of my Caribbean upbringing, my work seeks to preserve the cultural legacy and continuity of the African diasporic identity. I focus on the Black subject, using amplified forms and body parts to draw attention to the unique and beautiful features that define our people. Through this deliberate focus, I invite viewers to engage closely with the work, fostering a special relationship between the viewer and my sovereign Black subject. For me, it's important to center Blackness in art, especially since our representation has historically been marginalized or exempt from fine art, specifically from a Eurocentric lens. I want to reclaim space for us through my work. The act of seeing- truly seeing- is central to my practice. I want the viewers to understand the visual and cultural significance of African identity and recognize how we exist in all forms. Through vibrant colors and by portraying celebration rituals, my work reflects the energy, strength, and richness of this community.
J'ouvert Mahnin, 2023 (L). Black Boy, 2022 (R). Images courtesy of Savannah Woodson.
What drew you to apply for this opportunity and how do you think it will inform your wider practice?
Nina: I will always be enamored with the black diasporic arts, previously studying Yinka Shonibare’s work in my African Satires class drew to me to this internship. I deeply enjoy the public programming aspects that go into foundations like these as well!
Savannah: I was very interested in working with an organization that incorporates cross-cultural examinations of artistic practices and scholarly research. Growing up in the Caribbean has ignited my interest in worldly perspectives outside the traditional continental United States. I appreciate how the G.A.S. Foundation prioritizes a diverse and multidisciplinary collective, which is important for talking to and collaborating with a variety of practitioners within the art world. Additionally, I'm especially drawn to how the Foundation promotes an environment of experimentation and exploration. I'm excited to curate experiences and participate in meaningful research centered around multiculturalism and transnationalism. This experience will help to inform my own artistic practices and provide insights into other artistic movements and artists who work within my discipline, especially when it pertains to arts-informed and curatorial themes of identity and celebration.
About the Interns
Nina Gilbert
Nina Gilbert is a published illustrator, practicing artist and art historian beginning her final year at Spelman College. Currently serving as the first program committee member for the Southeastern Museums Conference, her interests lie with exploring the philanthropic side of the arts and bringing more afro-centric voices to its ecosystem. Nina has worked in multiple facets of the arts, from Auction Houses to Artist Endowed Foundations. Nina’s goal is to continue doing community based work within the arts while maintaining her practice as an artist.
Photo of Nina Gilbert. Image courtesy of the artist.
Savannah Woodson
Savannah Woodson is a contemporary artist and Art History major from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. She is currently a third year student at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and an award-winning visual artist who won the 2022 Congressional Art Competition, representing her territory. Her artwork, “Black Boy,” hung in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol Building for winning first place. She has also had her work displayed in the Art Deco Museum in Miami, Florida (during Art Basel Miami Beach, 2023), the Robert W. Woodruff Library, YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Alliance Theater, and in Realeyes, a zine for Black creatives. Savannah’s work primarily focuses on themes of Blackness, nature, and life, drawing inspiration from her vibrant Caribbean upbringing. She is deeply passionate about art, culture, and community, continuously merging her love for art and youth advocacy by engaging and inspiring children in her local community.
Photo of Savannah Woodson. Image courtesy of ButterbeanShot.
Nina Gilbert and Savannah Woodson's Internships are generously supported by Spelman College and the Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective (AUC Collective)
