Join us in welcoming our 2025 artists in residence, Levester Williams and Nazeer Sabree. Through the theme of “exchange,” our goal is to support these emerging public artists to evolve their practice and prepare for future large-scale monument commission opportunities while building stronger relationships within and across the city’s neighborhoods.
Our second year artists in residence have been encouraged to experiment with monumental materials and methods, foster relationships across Philadelphia neighborhoods, build out their portfolios with an exhibition, and join Monument Lab’s growing community of local, national, and transnational monument changemakers. Through this residency, Monument Lab seeks to contribute to the ecosystem of emerging monument changemakers and support emerging artists in growing their practice through place-based relationships.
About the Artists
Nazeer Sabree is an exciting new voice in contemporary art emerging from the heart of Philadelphia. As both a gifted artist and an insightful narrator, Sabree's work delves into the intricate tapestry of manhood, boyhood, and the pursuit of healing. His evocative figure paintings and collages weave traditional techniques with modern elements, creating a visual language that is both fresh and profoundly resonant.
Inspired by the rich artistic heritage and dynamic cultural scene of Philadelphia, Sabree's artistry reflects his deep connection to the city. From a young age, he absorbed the vibrant influences around him, channeling them into a unique style honed through years of dedicated practice and experimentation. Sabree's pieces are a compelling fusion of classical art principles and contemporary vision, consistently delivering powerful and thought-provoking works.
Sabree's art boldly challenges societal norms and the rigid expectations imposed on men and boys. Utilizing bold brushstrokes and a vibrant color palette, he creates dynamic scenes that provoke deep reflection and dialogue. Each piece is imbued with a profound social and political awareness, addressing the ongoing struggles for justice and equality. Through his art, Sabree invites viewers to explore the complexities of masculinity, examining its intersections with race, identity, mental health, and personal experience.
Nazeer Sabree's work is a powerful call to consider the nuanced narratives that shape our understanding of manhood and humanity.His art not only captivates the eye but also engages the mind, making him a standout figure in the contemporary art world.
Levester Williams (b. Lansing, MI) is a sculptor whose praxis is deeply rooted in aesthetic and critical inquiries into modes of existence and existing. Questions arising from the politics and poetics of identity, space/place, and boundary congeal into forms of sculptures, installations, drawings, sound, code, and the moving image.
Williams received a MFA in Sculpture + Extended Media from Virginia Commonwealth University, Master of Computer and Information Technology from University of Pennsylvania and BFA in Art and Design from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. His works have been included in exhibitions at San José Museum of Art, San José, CA; N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art, Detroit, MI; Institute for Contemporary Art, Richmond, VA; and, among others, Museum of African Design, Johannesburg, South Africa. His selected residencies include Skowhegan's School of Painting and Sculpture, Madison, Maine; Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont; and the Bag Factory, Johannesburg, South Africa.
About the Monument Lab Artist Residency Program
The Monument Lab Artist Residency Program was established in 2024 to support and prepare Philadelphia’s emerging public artists for future large-scale monument commission opportunities while building stronger relationships within and across the city’s neighborhoods. Through the theme of “exchange,” the program provides early- to mid-career public artists with resources, support, and networks of collaboration. Artist residents are supported in: experimenting with monumental materials and methods; reinforcing and building relationships within and across Philadelphia neighborhoods; gaining exhibition experience and mentorship; and joining Monument Lab’s growing community of local, national, and transnational monument changemakers. Through this residency, Monument Lab seeks to contribute to the ecosystem of emerging monument changemakers, who can grow their practice through place-based relationships.