Empowering Artists and Shaping the Future: Terrell Tilford & Band of Vices

Welcome, art enthusiasts! Get ready to dive deep into the world of art on 'The Truth in This Art' podcast with Rob Lee. Today, our guest is Terrell Tilford, the founder and creative director of Band of Vices, an art and culture company in Los Angeles, CA. With a diverse background as a respected classically-trained actor of stage and television, Terrell is also a dedicated social advocate for visual artists. He opened his first gallery, Tilford Art Group, in New York City in 1999, and later expanded to Los Angeles, where he established his first brick-and-mortar space in 2003. Now in its rebranded form as Band of Vices, the gallery has a collective mission to disrupt the art world and foster collaborations among creatives. Terrell holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Berkeley. With nearly two decades of representing artists and curating exhibitions, Terrell's commitment to supporting the art community remains unwavering, using his platforms to bridge the gap between art collecting and entertainment.

ABOUT BAND OF VICES

Band of Vices, founded in 2015, is a dynamic art and culture company based in Los Angeles, dedicated to empowering often overlooked creative communities. Through curated exhibitions, strategic partnerships, and community programming, they disrupt the traditional business model for artists. Recently, they launched coLAB, a discovery space for creatives to express themselves through curation, exhibition, performance, and merchandising. Embracing uniqueness and diversity, BoV is committed to providing platforms for historically undervalued individuals, fostering an inclusive and vibrant artistic community.

During this session:

• Explore how Band of Vices empowers visual artists and supports the art community.
• Delve into the importance of valuing artists beyond their commercial worth and treating them as unique individuals.
• Learn about the creative process, emphasizing active listening and openness to new ideas.
• Examine the significant role people of color play in shaping the future of media and representation.
• Uncover the power of authenticity and originality in leaving a lasting impact on audiences.

Get ready to be inspired as Terrell shares his journey as an actor and art collector, and how it led him to create a space that supports and uplifts visual artists. He emphasizes the importance of treating artists as individuals and valuing their work beyond just its commercial value. Tilford also discusses his creative process and the intentionality behind the shows and exhibitions at Band of Vices. He believes that people of color have the power to shape the future of media and representation and that their unique perspectives and creativity will lead to continued success and ownership in various industries.

Mentioned in this episode
Band of Vices

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The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). 

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

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