A smiling woman with long dark hair sits at a table in a library, writing in a book and engaging with someone across from her.
Photo courtesy of NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program.

Since its inception in 2007, NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program has set the standard for professional development opportunities for immigrant artists nationwide. The program pairs emerging immigrant artists with established artist mentors—who are immigrants themselves—offering personalized guidance, support, and expertise. This one-on-one mentorship model is uniquely tailored to address the specific challenges and opportunities faced by immigrant artists, fostering both artistic growth and professional advancement.

The Vilcek Foundation’s mission to celebrate and support immigrant contributions to the arts aligns seamlessly with NYFA’s dedication to nurture and foster the professional development of immigrant artists.The foundation is proud to support NYFA’s 2025 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program and its activities. 

A core value of the NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program is its commitment to building a supportive community. Through peer-to-peer learning, shared experiences, and collaborative workshops, participants form lasting networks that extend beyond the program. Artists gain access to vital resources, including professional development sessions on topics such as financing, strategic planning, marketing, and legal protections—tools essential for building sustainable careers in the arts.

A large, diverse group of people, some standing and some kneeling, pose for a group photo.
Photo courtesy of NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program.
A woman in a red shirt reaches up to interact with an exhibit on a white wall, while other people gather around her looking at the artwork.
Photo courtesy of NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program.
A young person with glasses holding a clear cup examines artwork displayed on a wall, with other people observing nearby.
Photo courtesy of NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program.
A group of young adults, some standing and some kneeling, pose for a photo in an art gallery surrounded by various artworks.
Photo courtesy of NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program.
  • A large, diverse group of people, some standing and some kneeling, pose for a group photo.
  • A woman in a red shirt reaches up to interact with an exhibit on a white wall, while other people gather around her looking at the artwork.
  • A young person with glasses holding a clear cup examines artwork displayed on a wall, with other people observing nearby.
  • A group of young adults, some standing and some kneeling, pose for a photo in an art gallery surrounded by various artworks.

In addition to professional development, NYFA collaborates with curators, gallerists, and partner institutions to develop exhibition opportunities for program participants. The 2025 NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring program’ cohort’s work was showcased in the group exhibition, In Between: More-than-human, at New York Live Arts, curated by Martita Abril, Zahra Banyamerian, and Yanira Castro. This exhibition in a prominent space in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood highlighted the diverse voices and visions of the 21 participating artists.

The 2025 cohort represents a vibrant tapestry of global perspectives, including artists from South Korea, Japan, Iran, Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, China, Brazil, Ecuador, Nepal, Greece, Argentina, India, Albania, Senegal, and more. Explore the full list of 2025 participants and learn more about their work in NYFA’s blog post and press release, 2025 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Visual and Multidisciplinary Arts Participants.

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