Meet our Team
As a Team of BIPOC ARTISTS UNDER 25, WE ARE PROUD TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY OF YOUNG ARTISTS
The Future is Us operates on a “For Us by Us” model: we are a team of young adult artists who serve our community of teens and young adults. We believe that it is crucial for communities that lack institutional support to have their own spaces to build networks of support. As a team, we offer spaces of healing and support for people navigating the transition from adolescence to adulthood, an experience that can be especially vulnerable for BIPOC and queer young people living in Philadelphia. With systemic inequalities and social issues such as gun violence affecting our communities, we aim to create healing spaces where our audience of young people can experience community.
Laila
Islam
Founder and Director
Born and raised in North Philadelphia, Laila Islam (they/them) founded the Future is Us with the assistance of 7 local high-school artists in September 2017. When they first began showcasing at local exhibits at age 16, they noticed that the spaces they showcased in were accommodating exclusively to an older and financially privileged demographic. This disparity inspired Islam to create spaces where all (regardless of financial status, race, gender identity, religion, etc.) are included and welcomed. A recent graduate of Moore College of Art and Design with a BFA in Curatorial Studies, Islam identifies as a curator committed to artistic community engagement and radical healing. They define radical healing as a practice where people create a space for communities who experience systemic harm to think and exist outside of their violent histories and realities. These platforms allow groups of people to combat said realities, ultimately empowering and equipping people with the ability to better unionize and mobilize as communities through communal care.
As Director, Laila oversees all organization operations. They are the leader of the Future is Us Group Residency project and typically host and organize our workshops, events, and happenings.
Islam's Portfolio
Isa
Matisse
Lead Curator
Isa Matisse (b. 2002 in Philadelphia, PA) is a multidisciplinary artist whose work is currently focused on photography. Matisse’s photo work serves as a tool to create dreamlike worlds of color. They explore themes of love, time, growth,and familial connection. Matisse draws inspiration from everywhere, mainly the environments and people they’ve grown around. Matisse has been showcasing with and contributing to The Future Is Us collective since our first show in September 2017. Matisse’s work as a curator for The Future Is Us is focused on meaningful engagement with the arts and collective healing much like the collective’s other programming.
As Lead Curator, Isa curates the arrangement of each TFIU Installation exhibition and regularly communicates with showcasing artists regarding exhibition assembly, artist opportunities, and the like. If you are a local artist interested in becoming a showcasing at our next Installation feel free to reach out to Isa at any time!
ALi
Islam
Studio Manager
Ali Islam (he/him) is a photographer born and raised in Philadelphia. A high school senior at the Haverford School, Ali serves as our studio manager. Islam has always shown a love for art, first exploring various disciplines and now landing on portrait and life photography.
As Studio Manager, Ali handles routine maintenance for our studio space and exhibitions. He is also the host of our studio Art Making Sessions: a regular Friday evening event where middle-high school students can create art as a group.
Annais
Delgado
Graphic Designer and Visual Identity Specialist
Annais Delgado Sánchez (they/them) is a Puerto Rican graphic designer, animator, illustrator, and printmaker based in Philadelphia. They recently graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design and a minor in Animation from Moore College of Art and Design. They currently hold a position as the Graphic Designer and Content Developer at Taller Puertorriqueño a Latinx community organization. In addition to their design work at Taller, Annais has also worked as a freelance designer for various independent projects. Their drive is to make a positive impact with their work as an artist. They enjoy all things art & design especially if they involve illustration, typography, motion design, getting messy with print making, putting a book together and collaborating with other artists.
As Graphic Designer and Visual Identity Specialist, Annais designs all of our promotional materials and any ephemera we print and publicize, like our Residency Project zine and our forthcoming magazine.
Justin
keller
Virtual Platforms Manager
Justin J. Keller (he/him) (b. 1999 in Montgomery County, PA) uses his practice to discuss time and location as related to his own personal and societal perspectives on culture. Through the use of illustrative drawing techniques, printmaking and painting, he places figures from photographed reference or his imagination within abstract environments to create conceptual narratives. With the use of color and line work, these environments portray his own perception of relationships that exist in communities. Keller is currently working as a Printmaker and Fine Artist in Philadelphia, PA and has a BFA Printmaking major at Tyler School of Art and Architecture.
Justin manages all of our virtual engagements including our newsletter, our social media platforms, and our forthcoming radio station.
