Artists For Humanity

Artists For Humanity Artists for Humanity (AFH) harnesses the power of art, mentorship and paid professional experiences to inspire teens to build their future.

Artists For Humanity (AFH) was founded in 1991 as a space for young creatives to thrive—a bridge between raw teen talent and the City of Boston. Today, it is a powerhouse of art and design, harnessing the power of mentorship and paid professional experiences to inspire teens to build their future. AFH offers art and design solutions, transforms spaces, and builds social equity. With studios in Bos

ton and NYC, AFH teens sit at the table with industry professionals where their opinions are valued. Working alongside professional mentors, 400+ teens are employed to design, build, animate, code, photograph, film, paint, and create compelling solutions for our clients. By hiring AFH, our partners contribute to economic vitality, thriving communities and diversifying new networks for the next generation. Visit afhboston.org to learn more!

How do you write about a light, an energy, a force so primordial that it cannot be defined? Such was Yhinny Matos. She w...
08/29/2026

How do you write about a light, an energy, a force so primordial that it cannot be defined? Such was Yhinny Matos. She was funny, charismatic, and quicksilver smart. Her beauty shone brightly from within and radiated outward; her smiles stopped a room. When she said, “Listen,” and she said it often, you listened. When she danced, you marveled. And when she hugged, you felt her love and sincerity.
 
All of us at Artists For Humanity send our deepest condolences to Yhinny’s family for her loss. Yhinny was part of the AFH family – she was part of why AFH always felt like family. Just as we cannot define her spirit, we cannot imagine a world without her.
 
Rest in Peace, Yhinny.

“My favorite thing about vending is the overall community it creates,” Sarina White, AFH Alumni explains, “From connecti...
08/26/2026

“My favorite thing about vending is the overall community it creates,” Sarina White, AFH Alumni explains, “From connecting with other like-minded artists and sellers to the people that attend the event. There’s a true sense of happiness in the air at these events as everyone is in awe of the work created by real artists.”

Sarina’s work focuses on putting more beauty into the world. She sells prints, postcards, magnets, and original works under the name ‘Sarinta Studios’ at artisan vendor events. At the moment, her favorite thing to sell is her 3-D acrylic magnets.

These magnets are small canvases decorated with vibrant heavy body acrylic florals—— they’re textured, fun, and a fantastic addition to your refrigerator!

When asked what advice she would give to a young person looking to also get into vending, she says that “Anyone can sell at events. It’s all about finding your unique niche and the right market will find their way to you!”

Interested in purchasing art or chatting with Sarina? She will be at Cambridge Arts Open Studios from Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, September 20!

“Stop by if you can!”——Sarina White, AFH Alumni and Founder of Sarinta Studios

It’s Black Business Month, & we’re excited to be spotlighting Black-owned businesses & entrepreneurs throughout August! Are there any other artists or entrepreneurs we should spotlight before the end of the month? Let us know in the comments below. 🧡

“I like to listen to music that contains a person’s unique insight on life— how they put their emotions into the sounds....
08/25/2026

“I like to listen to music that contains a person’s unique insight on life— how they put their emotions into the sounds. I want to do something like that. I want to have that effect on people, and make my voice known.” — Jonathan, AFH NYC Teen Artist

Jonathan has been an AFH NYC teen artist for about a year now, working mainly in illustration and painting. When we last spoke to him he was working on a personal panting titled ‘Ace up the shelf,’ depicting a hand with an ace up its sleeve at a card table.

Jonathan’s artist name is Osiris, and when he first started working at AFH he says he was more heavy handed in his sketches, often pressing down too hard on the paper, but now he’s more familiar with sketching techniques, pencil strokes, and more! He hopes to continue to evolve and develop his artwork, eventually branching out into music!

“Ever since I was a kid, I have been honed in on music. I often stop and just listen to music on my own. I look for new artists and find new music. It has been a passion since I was 8. Now I have the tools to start making some on my own, which is almost a full dream come true.” Jonathan says.

We’re so excited for Jonathan and cannot wait to see and listen to all of his future works!


Detail of ‘Kryptic Candle’ by Jonathan

Detail of ‘Tears of Laughter’ by Jonathan

Detail of ‘NIGHT Life’ by Jonathan

Check out our ‘Cool Cats & Hot Dogs of Summer’ Exhibition at 100 Federal Street!As the dog days of summer settle in, we ...
08/24/2026

Check out our ‘Cool Cats & Hot Dogs of Summer’ Exhibition at 100 Federal Street!

As the dog days of summer settle in, we celebrate the season’s late sunsets, beach days, and time spent with loved ones. This exhibition captures that sun-soaked spirit through the playful collection of artwork by Artists for Humanity’s (AFH) teen artists, featuring their vibrant interpretations of cats and dogs.

On view is a diverse collection of art and design from AFH’s creative studios, spanning illustrations, paintings, and mixed media. From ice cream eating dogs to cats drinking martinis, these works capture the warmth, ease, and joy of the season, and the simple pleasure of slowing down when the temperature climbs.

“As a Black woman, I know what it feels like to have incredible talent overlooked or to feel like you’re waiting for som...
08/20/2026

“As a Black woman, I know what it feels like to have incredible talent overlooked or to feel like you’re waiting for someone to open a door that was never really built for you,” Therlande Louissaint, Co-Founder & CEO of SIDE Presents says, “That perspective shapes everything we do at SIDE. We want people to feel seen, valued, & celebrated in a way that feels genuine. If people leave feeling connected, to themselves, to someone else, or to their community, then we’ve done our job.”

Therlande urges young people who are considering pursuing a job in event planning & creative production to always stay curious & not to wait until they feel “ready.”

“This work is equal parts creativity, problem-solving, relationship building, & rolling with the unexpected.” She mentions, “Also, don’t underestimate the power of being kind. People may not remember every event you produce, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel.”

From Estrogina, to planning the Puma Trailblazers Bra Run, SIDE Presents has hosted & planned a number of fantastic events AFH & across Boston. We’re grateful for their friendship, their support, & the care they put into each & every event they host & plan!

It’s Black Business Month, & we’re excited to be spotlighting Black-owned businesses & entrepreneurs throughout August!

“We’re lucky to be surrounded by so many incredible people doing meaningful work, but a few that immediately come to mind are The Haitian Croissant, The Sofenomenal Agency, SILK R&B Party, Rhythm & Wraps, DVM Housing Partners, Black Owned Bos., & ToriTori Music,” Therlande says, “They each lead with community in their own way, & it’s been a privilege to build alongside them. Boston is full of talented Black-owned businesses, & I hope people continue to support them long after Black Business Month ends.”

Follow SIDE Presents as well as the above businesses and shout-out Black-owned businesses in the comments below!

We’re gonna have live music at Big Summer Show!4piece is a 4 person band featuring Rex and Sora, AFH Animation Studio te...
08/19/2026

We’re gonna have live music at Big Summer Show!

4piece is a 4 person band featuring Rex and Sora, AFH Animation Studio teens, and Marcus, and Wil. They will be covering music by beabadoobee, Sheena Ringo, Laufey, Clarion, Joji, and more throughout the night! Get a taste of their vibe by swiping to view their cover of ‘From the Start’ by Laufey.

Jaylen, another AFH Animation teen, created both 4piece’s logo and art!

Join us on August 20th for an evening full of fun and shop art and design products from across our studios. It’s a night you won’t want to miss.

Event Timing: Thursday, August 20th 5-8pm
Location: AFH Epicenter, 100 W 2nd St, Boston, MA 02127
Contact: [email protected]

Keep updated with the latest 4piece news by following them 4piece or by subscribing to their youtube channel (link in bio). To learn more about Jaylen, you can read our May spotlight about his work at AFH OR you can follow him at Jaylen 🦭 !



Illustration by Jaylen 🦭 for 4piece

4piece covering From the Start by laufey

(If you saw the earlier post without sound, no you didn’t 🧡)

08/18/2026

I can’t believe we caught this on video…

AFH is bringing back the Bahk Bahk shirt for a limited time only! Don’t miss out on your chance to grab this exclusive screen-print edition of the iconic Bahk Bahk shirt at Artists for Humanity’s Big Summer Show on August 20 from 5 to 8pm!

Grab a white tee to enjoy the end of summer in style OR prepare for fall and winter with your very own black Bahk Bahk sweatshirt with white line-work! Both the shirt and the sweatshirt come in sizes small to 2xl.

We don’t have any plans to get these printed again, so make sure to stop by the Big Summer Show and get them while they’re available!

Thank you to Sinai, Santi, and Jason for being the stars of this video 🔮🐶🧡✨

08/17/2026

Similar to Soccer, Graphic Design and illustration at AFH is a team sport!

Thank you to Synergy for passing the ball to AFH and trusting our team to bring your vision of celebration, unity, and love of soccer to life.

“In those illustrations, you see the country’s background, their neighborhoods, you see their cities, you see their skylines. So when they come here, they feel like they have been noticed, and they feel like: Hey, there’s a little respect for our country in Boston.” —Mikey Guadarrama, AFH Graphic Design Director and Brand Manager

In this video, you get a sneak peek into the process from start to finish—seeing the amount of care and detail that our team put into creating all nine windows. Each window represents a country participating in the World Cup, with players from Haiti, France, England, Scotland, Morocco, Norway, Iraq, and Ghana all kicking the ball towards the final soccer player and the window representing Boston.

Shoutout to AFH teen designers Mai, Stephon, Te’Zohn, Ashley, Larel, Jaliegha, Yasmine, Hodan, Angelo, Kia, and Shamania as well as mentors Mikey Guadarrama, Jonathan Tejeda, Tamara Yampolsky, and Cierra Larkin for creating this awesome piece celebrating FIFA’s World Cup and thank you to Synergy and BGO for making this happen!

“With my art, I want to create things that will make me feel a sense of whimsy, because it’s good to be fun and whimsica...
08/13/2026

“With my art, I want to create things that will make me feel a sense of whimsy, because it’s good to be fun and whimsical!” Shannon, AFH teen artist expresses, “The people and the world around me inspire me to keep being myself in every painting I make, and I hope every viewer who comes across my creations can feel that happiness I felt while making it.”

Shannon says she has always had a passion for drawing, and as the years passed that passion grew until she finally found herself at Artists for Humanity in the painting studio. Since 2024, Shannon has been searching for her style with each new painting, often combining happy aesthetics with more unique and “odd” visuals, joining aspects of both worlds to make each painting come to life.

She hopes that each of her paintings bring smiles and joy to those who see them. Shannon’s creations don’t always tell a story, but they do always express inner happiness within herself.

Every month, we collaborate with Prudential Center Boston to feature a new AFH teen artist. You can view Shannon’s work on the digital kiosks throughout Prudential Center all of August! Make sure to follow us and turn your notifications on to be among the first to learn about our September collaboration with Prudential Center!

08/06/2026

How does color affect YOUR story?

“One of the biggest things that color brings is emotion. Whatever you have around you, it’s gonna affect your mental health.” — Diana Cisneros, AFH Teen

The ICA Teen Exhibitions Program dedicated so much time, energy, and care to interviewing AFH teen artists and organizing Coloring Book. We’re so excited for you all to see the product of our collaboration TOMORROW at ICA’s Seaport Studio (100 Pier 4 Blvd, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02210) Until then, please enjoy a small sneak peek into the interview process! 🤩

Coloring Book centers around how eight teen artists from Artists for Humanity (AFH) use color to express stories. Some of these artists choose colors that connect their artwork to current events, while others use it to call back to history. Still others use color to convey feelings or remind us of the simple pleasantries of life.

Join us for the opening!

When: Fri, Aug 7, 6-8pm
Where: Institute of Contemporary Art / Boston Seaport Studio, 100 Pier 4 Blvd, 2nd Floor (entrance on Seaport Blvd), Boston, MA 02210

AFH harnesses the power of art, mentorship, and paid professional experiences to inspire teens to build their future. Transcending economic, racial, and social divisions, AFH teens transform communities through creative expression by collaborating on innovative art and design projects commissioned by clients and sharing their voice through public art.

This exhibition was organized by the ICA’s Teen Exhibitions Program (TEP). This group amplifies teen art and artists by collaboratively creating and activating exhibitions in the ICA’s Teen Galleries. In this space, they imagine new ways to present their work and grow in their own creative practices by working together and with ICA staff. Teen arts education is central to the ICA, and TEP is just one of many programs offered.

Questions or requests for accessibility assistance? Email [email protected] or text or call (339)236-3039

Please contact [email protected] to inquire about purchasing artwork.

Address

100 W 2nd Street
Boston, MA
02127

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm

Telephone

+16172687620

Website

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