Fellowships
Supporting emerging artists from underrepresented communities through mentorship, financial support, and professional development opportunities.
Each year, we focus on a different artistic discipline that has the power to build deep, meaningful connections between established artists and the next generation of creative voices.
Randolph Emerging Photographers Fellowship (2025)
Lucky Jefferson, in partnership with Buddy at the Chicago Cultural Center, launched a one-month fellowship opportunity for emerging photographers living on Chicago’s South and West Sides.
This fellowship aims to hold space and support photographers looking to evolve their craft, connect with the local community, and showcase their work.
Fellowship Perks:
• Publication and press
• $250 Stipend for selected artists
• Free Workshops & classes with established Chicago photographers to enhance technical skills and foster artistic growth
• Free Exhibition of the artist’s work at Buddy’s Randolph Window at The Chicago Cultural Center, offering public exposure and recognition
**2025 Fellow Announcement**
Meet our 2025 fellow: Brittany Norment!
This artist represents the south (Englewood) side of Chicago and we couldn’t be more excited to work with them.
She embodies the spirit of storytelling, innovation, and community that this Fellowship was founded to champion.
About Brittany Norment
Brittany Norment, rooted in Chicago, is a visual storyteller whose work weaves together photography, language, and design to celebrate Black joy, memory, and collective experience. Her creative practice effortlessly bridges documentary and imaginative expression, recently expanding into immersive and collaborative storytelling formats. Beyond the camera, Brittany amplifies the missions of purpose-driven organizations with campaigns grounded in care, culture, and impact—making her artistry as powerful in boardrooms as it is in galleries.
Fellows Exhibitions
Explore the remarkable work created by our Photography Fellows. We support emerging photographers in their creative practice, culminating in exhibitions that showcase their unique voices and perspectives on Chicago’s communities.
Everyday Monuments
Curated by: NaBeela Washington, Editor-in-Chief at Lucky Jefferson
A love letter to Englewood. Through candid, natural photography, Everyday Monuments honors the beauty in our daily lives and the legacies we build without fanfare. It’s about the small but mighty moments that show how this community sustains itself: how we laugh, gather, work, create, and care for one another.
Through candid, unposed images, this exhibit honors the community’s spirit—the pride, joy, and care that don’t always make headlines but sustain us every single day. This is Englewood, seen not through stereotypes but through truth: a community full of life, legacy, and love.
Support: This work is supported by The Amazon Literary Partnership, Chicago Architecture Center, and BLICK Art Materials. We also express gratitude to Buddy, The Chicago Cultural Center, Darkroom Chicago, and facilitating artists for making space for this work.
View Full Exhibit →
Future Fellowships (2026—)
Stay tuned for more details. Questions about our fellowships? Email us at programs@luckyjefferson.com.
Lucky Jefferson is a 501 (c)(3) creative arts publisher creating social change through the arts and humanities. Buddy is a store in the Chicago Cultural Center in downtown Chicago with the mission of supporting and showcasing local artists, makers, and small businesses.
Together, this fellowship was made possible.