MIAMI, FLA.- National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) President and CEO Carolina García Jayaram today announced the creation of the “Daniel Arsham Fellowship, presented by the Ridinger-McLaughlin Family,” a major new granting program for aspiring visual artists up to three years out of receiving their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Named in honor of acclaimed contemporary artist Daniel Arsham (1999 YoungArts Winner in Visual Arts) and supported by SHOP.COM and DNA Atelier Co-Founders Duane McLaughlin and Amber Ridinger-McLaughlin, the Fellowship further expands the organization’s support of YoungArts alumni as they pursue careers in the arts. For the next three years, one YoungArts alum a year will receive an unrestricted prize of $25,000 and year-long mentorship opportunities with Arsham. SHENEQUA, a 2011 YoungArts Winner in Visual Arts, has been named the inaugural Daniel Arsham Fellow by a jury of internationally renowned artists and YoungArts Master Teachers, including Derrick Adams, José Parlá, Teresita Fernández and Daniel Arsham, and YoungArts President and CEO Carolina García Jayaram.

“The Daniel Arsham Fellowship would not be possible without the generous support of the Ridinger-McLaughlin family and the altruism of the visionary Daniel Arsham. Together we will create an essential bridge for aspiring visual artists to navigate the path between training and establishing a successful career in the arts,” said Carolina García Jayaram.

"I wanted to launch this fellowship program for artists just setting off on their careers. I look forward to working with SHENEQUA and learning more about her practice,” said Daniel Arsham. “I hope that my experiences and some of the struggles that I have had in finding my own career, and maintaining a vision over time, will help her become the best artist she can be."

“We are thrilled to be a part of the Daniel Arsham Fellowship and to help support aspiring visual artists across the country. Our family has a deep heritage in the arts, and this is an unparalleled opportunity to turn our passion into purposeful support,” said Duane McLaughlin on behalf of the Ridinger-McLaughlin Family.

Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts stated, “I applaud the National YoungArts Foundation, Daniel Arsham and the Ridinger-McLaughlin Family for their bold vision to establish the Daniel Arsham Fellowship. The magnitude of this Fellowship makes it one of the most significant opportunities available for early career artists. Through the creation of this program, YoungArts is helping to fill a gap in the funding spectrum, which often reserves significant financial and mentorship support for more established artists.”

SHENEQUA was born in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and grew up in Miami, Florida. Her work often utilizes cotton, yarn and synthetic hair to explore the many layers of her heritage. SHENEQUA received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in fibers at Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, Missouri and her Master of Design in fashion, body and garment at School of the Art Institute of Chicago under the mentorship of Nick Cave and Liat Stemad.

"I'm honored and humbled to be the first Daniel Arsham Fellow. This prestigious award will help me to continue on my artistic journey by giving me the chance to travel, make new work, and above all, learn from Daniel Arsham himself,” said SHENEQUA. “I think back to 2011 when I received a YoungArts award, and tears of joy rolled down my face. In that moment I knew I wanted to really make art my profession. Today, with the support of YoungArts, I have the privilege to make another dream a reality."

“The jury was unanimous in our selection. It was clear to us that SHENEQUA is an innovative artist and designer who not only demonstrates skill, but critical thinking, when it comes to developing her visual arts practice, fashion and design work,” said Teresita Fernández.

To be eligible for the Fellowship, aspiring visual artists must be a YoungArts alum within three years of receiving their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Each year a jury of acclaimed artists will select a Fellow from a pool of visual arts candidates through a blind adjudication process.

In addition to fully underwriting the Daniel Arsham Fellowship for three years, the Ridinger-McLaughlin Family will give $75,000 to YoungArts to support ongoing programming for alumni. On the evening of December 9, at the annual ÄRT MAISON party hosted by Duane McLaughlin and Amber Ridinger-McLaughlin, along with Loren and JR Ridinger of SHOP.COM, at their home Casa de Sueños in Miami Beach, Florida, in collaboration with Bentley Motors Inc., YoungArts will introduce SHENEQUA and raise a glass to celebrate the launch of the Daniel Arsham Fellowship. The event will feature Arsham’s original work Lunar Garden, featuring YoungArts alumni.

The Daniel Arsham Fellowship is the most recent example of YoungArts’ ongoing programming expansion to support YoungArts alumni across three areas: professional development, artistic development, and presentation opportunities. Earlier this year, the organization announced a dynamic series of new programs including UP NEXT, career development symposia in Los Angeles and New York; IMAGINATION LAND: Fantastical Narrative, an exhibition curated by multidisciplinary artist and YoungArts Master Teacher Derrick Adams; and In Process: Homecoming, an interdisciplinary residency program.