G.A.S. Foundation is thrilled to welcome Nina Gilbert and Savannah Woodson to G.A.S. Lagos for an eight-week internship, delivered in partnership with Spelman College and the Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective (AUC Collective). While this cohort joins us outside of the residency-based model, the initiative reflects our continued commitment to supporting the next generation of arts professionals through hands-on, work-based learning.
Nina and Savannah bring with them a strong foundation in the arts, shaped by interdisciplinary practices and a shared eagerness to engage with Lagos’ cultural landscape. Over the course of their internship, they will work closely with the G.A.S. team to support core programmes and deepen their understanding of creative practice within the African context. While Nina will contribute to the forthcoming AAL Lab & Conference, Savannah will support ongoing exhibition planning and development. Both interns are eager to gain practical experience, connect with local artists, and explore museums and galleries. Through this, they hope to build on their academic training, strengthen their professional skills, and offer fresh perspectives on curatorial work within the global framework.
What is the current focus of your practice?
Nina: My current focus centers on field research related to my thesis. While I am a practicing artist, my craft is interdisciplinary. I aim to strengthen my career as an art historian while continuing to depict the world around me through illustration. Studying various diasporic art forms and artists is central to both my academic and professional development, alongside conceptualizing aspects of community, unity, and art activism. Researching why we preserve, curate, and protect Black art and ideas forms the foundation of my studies and my role within the broader art ecosystem.
Savannah: Inspired by the vitality of my Caribbean upbringing, my work seeks to preserve the cultural legacy and continuity of the African diasporic identity. I focus on the Black subject, using amplified forms and body parts to draw attention to the unique and beautiful features that define our people. Through this deliberate focus, I invite viewers to engage closely with the work, fostering a special relationship between the viewer and my sovereign Black subject. For me, it’s important to center Blackness in art, especially since our representation has historically been marginalized or excluded from fine art, particularly from a Eurocentric lens. I want to reclaim space for us through my work. The act of seeing - truly seeing - is central to my practice. I want viewers to understand the visual and cultural significance of African identity and recognize how we exist in all forms.
What drew you to apply for this opportunity and how do you think it will inform your wider practice?
Nina: I’ve always been enamored with Black diasporic arts. Studying Yinka Shonibare’s work in my African Satires class particularly drew me to this internship. I’m also deeply interested in the public programming side of foundations like G.A.S., and I see this opportunity as a way to build on that interest while engaging more closely with cross-cultural practices that will inform both my academic and creative pursuits.
Savannah: I was drawn to G.A.S. Foundation’s commitment to cross-cultural exploration in both artistic practice and research. Growing up in the Caribbean sparked my interest in global perspectives beyond the traditional continental United States. I value the Foundation’s emphasis on diversity and interdisciplinary collaboration, which is essential for engaging with a broad range of practitioners in the art world. I’m especially inspired by its support for experimentation and exploration. I believe this opportunity will allow me to curate meaningful experiences and pursue research rooted in multiculturalism and transnationalism, ultimately enriching my practice and deepening my understanding of artistic movements and creators engaging with themes of identity and celebration.
About the Interns
Nina Gilbert
Nina Gilbert is a published illustrator, practicing artist and art historian beginning her final year at Spelman College. Currently serving as the first program committee member for the Southeastern Museums Conference, her interests lie with exploring the philanthropic side of the arts and bringing more afro-centric voices to its ecosystem. Nina has worked in multiple facets of the arts, from Auction Houses to Artist Endowed Foundations. Nina’s goal is to continue doing community based work within the arts while maintaining her practice as an artist.
Photo of Nina Gilbert.
Savannah Woodson
Savannah Woodson is a contemporary artist and Art History major from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. She is currently a third year student at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and an award-winning visual artist who won the 2022 Congressional Art Competition, representing her territory. Her artwork, “Black Boy,” hung in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol Building for winning first place. She has also had her work displayed in the Art Deco Museum in Miami, Florida (during Art Basel Miami Beach, 2023), the Robert W. Woodruff Library, YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Alliance Theater, and in Realeyes, a zine for Black creatives. Savannah’s work primarily focuses on themes of Blackness, nature, and life, drawing inspiration from her vibrant Caribbean upbringing. She is deeply passionate about art, culture, and community, continuously merging her love for art and youth advocacy by engaging and inspiring children in her local community.
Photo of Savannah Woodson.
Nina Gilbert and Savannah Woodson's Internships are generously supported by Spelman College and the Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective (AUC Collective)
