As a 16-year-old artist born and raised in North Philadelphia, Laila Islam ’22 looked around her community and saw room for growth. While there were plenty of opportunities for teens to gather and share poetry at open mics and slam events throughout the city, there weren’t many spaces that offered a safe and supportive environment for young people to exhibit their visual artwork.
Determined to address this need, Islam founded The Future Is Us (TFIU), a collective of like-minded artists that operates on a “for us, by us” model. Since 2017, the collective has worked to establish programmatic initiatives—including art fairs, somatic workshops, school supply drives and drag performances—to support healing and solidarity among BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and queer youth.
Annais Delgado ’22 began to collaborate with Islam during their shared time as Moore students. They connected over their love for printmaking and their respective roles as leaders of the College’s Latinx affinity group, Alianza, and the Black Student Union. Delgado has since become one of the four core organizers of TFIU.
As the TFIU collective shifts over to new leadership and a new chapter this year, Islam and Delgado spoke with Moore Magazine’s editorial team to share the origins of their work together as co-organizers and to reflect on the evolution of the collective, as well as what continues to drive their community-focused creative practice.
Laila Islam ’22:
Focusing on young artists in Philly, TFIU first organized open calls for submissions, providing a platform for artists to showcase their work at our events. These showcases created temporary spaces where emerging talents could shine. Occasionally, we themed our shows around film and photography.
Moore’s support truly transformed our trajectory. The guidance from faculty and the opportunities offered, like undergraduate funding opportunities, allowed me to pitch the collective’s first group residency project. This experience reshaped my understanding of curation and social art, setting the stage for the collective’s evolution.
Throughout our journey, I’ve been deeply committed to creating spaces where people not only come together but also heal as a community. Whether through shared joy or genuine therapeutic practices, fostering this communal healing has been a priority. The group residency initiative took shape amidst the backdrop of the pandemic and widespread civil unrest sparked by instances of police brutality in 2020. It prompted me to reflect on the evolving purpose of our collective over the past four years. It wasn’t just about structural changes, but also about redefining our conceptual focus to better align with the changing times.
As for the present, our collective is changing, and there’s potential for significant shifts in the near future. With Isa Isioma Matisse now leading the collective, TFIU is evolving to focus on Black and Brown queer expressions through the exploration of futurisms.
Transdreaming by Annais Delgado '22. Image courtesy of the artist.
Annais Delgado ’22:
Laila and I connected as friends, peers and students, navigating similar experiences, especially as students of color. We both aimed to create safe and comfortable spaces for individuals in our communities. As graduation approached, I sought out ways to stay engaged with the arts community and maintain a sense of belonging. I had known about TFIU since meeting its members and, as a printmaker and artist, I admired their work. Since joining the initiative, I’ve been able to maintain connections as well as a sense of community.
Being part of a collective like TFIU inspires me in many ways. It’s the camaraderie among artists and the exposure to diverse artworks and conversations that initially drew me in. This environment significantly influences my own artistic practice and fuels my desire to create collaboratively. Being surrounded by like-minded individuals who are also striving towards something greater is incredibly motivating. It’s refreshing to create art within a community where similar discussions are happening, allowing for genuine connection and growth.
Throughout my journey, especially in my senior year and upon joining TFIU, my artwork has consistently reflected this aspiration for a better, more inclusive future. This collective mindset has deeply shaped my artistic direction and the themes I choose to explore. One of my recent pieces, which was featured in a show curated by Laila, pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to express myself in new ways. Without this collective environment, I might not have had the courage to embark on such a personal project.
Top, left: Laila Islam '22. Top, right: Annais Delgado '22; photo: Isa Isioma Matisse.
