FROM THE DESK OF RICK GARZON, FOUNDER/GALLERY DIRECTOR: I usually don’t post about myself on here but since Residency is approaching year six, I thought it was a good time to step out from behind the curtain to send some love and share a part of my story with you all. Thanks to the team at @greatdiscontent for documenting my voice and journey. In 2016, I started Residency with one goal in mind: “How do we show OUR artwork to OUR own people?” No shade to PWIs & galleries but I saw firsthand the scramble to acquire Black/Brown/People of Color artwork in these spaces yet rarely were the people and patrons consuming a reflection of the work. More and more, the stories and histories being told through art have become diluted through consumerism and hobbyists. So I set out to create a space in my own neighborhood that would be accessible to the community and have them resonate with the artwork. Establishing the gallery in Inglewood was a non-decision for me. I’ve lived here for well over 30 years and the neighborhood mirrors the diversity I saw in the art world and in my own identity. Being of Black North American and Indigenous South American ancestry myself, I saw my own experiences and that of my community reflected in the artwork. I believe it is paramount to feature artists from across the BIPOC diaspora and share their stories, histories and experiences with everyone. In addition to creating a platform to give artists the exposure they need, we also wanted to make sure they are protected in this industry. We always strive to put the artists up on game and give them the tools they need to succeed. My door has been and will always be open to any artist that needs support and counsel navigating this industry. With that being said, this has not been an easy undertaking to say the least and since then I have worked tirelessly to make a long shot dream into a reality. With a background in Advertising & Marketing and experiencing the art game from the collector’s side, I had a slight leg up with this endeavor, but couldn’t have survived and arrived at this point without the support, love, trust and counsel of so many who believed in me and our collective vision. [...]