The Chop Shop Artists Collective is a group of Black and Brown artists that originally came together to share virtual conversations and fellowship in 2020 during the Pandemic. In the aftermath of the worldwide broadcast of the murder of George Floyd, these artists were compelled to gather regularly, forming a community among themselves, with their shared experiences serving as their bond.

The brainchild of The Chop Shop is visual artist, educator, and documentarian Steven M. Cozart. Inspired by historically Black art collectives such as the well know Spiral Collective of the 1960’s, Cozart saw the need for a new collective that would speak to the issues plaguing Black and Brown communities in America Today.

In the spirit of the Spiral Collective, The Chop Shop is comprised of artists who are highly motivated to gather and discuss, debate, critique, support, fellowship, vent, and reflect upon their roles as creators and educators.

This collective, originally born out of a dire need for community during a grave moment in our nation, is now a thriving engine of inspirational voices, all of whom tell unique stories through their art. In addition to offering each other emotional support, critical advice regarding projects in development, and general discussions about life, The Chop Shop artists are adamant in their desire to dispel longstanding myths and fallacies about Black and Brown people that permeate not only the Art World, but our society at large.

Thus, this group seeks to reconfigure the narrative about these communities through both meaningful and challenging conversation and with new bodies of remarkable works of art as well.