Trevor Coopersmith
Urban Art Scholarship
2025 Recipient Alejandra Sierazy
"I’m a mixed-media artist based in Northwest Indiana, and have been practicing art since I was old enough to hold a pencil. Launching my business at age thirteen, I created a brand for myself within my local community, donating art for auctions, appearing at festivals/markets, and displaying work at shows held by the Chesterton Art Center, International Baccalaureate Art Show, and the Lubeznik Center for the Arts. I’m currently studying sociology/psychology with minors in art and political science at Butler University with the aspiration of being an art therapist. With my desire to go into the mental health field, I’ll utilize creative expression to help others navigate their personal struggles.
My work explores the intersection of culture, race, gender, health, nature, and the connections between people. It’s a manifestation of my desire to highlight how systemic inequities, cultural identity, and the body are interwoven in our collective experience, particularly within marginalized communities. My signature style includes labyrinthine floral designs, lush depictions of nature, and traditional Hispanic iconography. The skeletons in my pieces reflect the complex relationship between life, death, and transformation. I hope that my work serves as a reflection on the systemic inequities faced by communities of color and women, offering a space for healing, reflection, and dialogue. In this way, I create a platform for understanding and change, using art as a means to heal and empower people of all backgrounds."
Mission Statement: The scholarship foundation identifies artistically driven individuals who incorporate art into creatively benefiting their community. Financial support is given to one student selected per year, after reviewing scholarship applications from March 1st to December 31st. The award of $350.00 is granted on January 31st to winning participant, based on artistic work and essay, to support the drive to obtain a career in the arts and to promote creative civil engagement for years to come. The Urban Art Scholarship was started by college student and artist, Trevor Coopersmith in 2016. Trevor graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with no parental financial support or student loans, despite rising tuition fees nationwide. Working four part-time jobs, attending Community College, selling artwork and obtaining scholarships assisted in his dream to graduate from a prestigious university debt free, which sparked his drive to aid others. Trevor is a current MFA student at Otis College of Art & Design which will also help aid in his ambitions of teaching art as a college professor. Trevor makes it a goal to donate his work and beautify his community on a regular basis, knowing that creative support always goes full circle. Purpose: The Urban Art Scholarship is to provide youth with hope for financial and educational support. The foundation was created to support the art in the community for future generations; and to provide inspiration for artists who wish to pursue a career in the arts.
How to Apply Application submission period: March 1st - December 31st, Annually Hello Students! Below is the information regarding the application prompt and portfolio requirements. Please follow all guidelines and review carefully! Essay Applications must include an essay discussing several topics. (300-500 words) a. Introduce yourself and discuss goals as an artist, potential barriers b. Describe your work as an artist, and how it applies to the Urban Art Scholarship c. Discuss how the scholarship will benefit you and your community Portfolio Applications must Include 3-5 images/ video/ stills of your work a. High quality, JPG, PNG, .MOV .DOCX b. Confirm portfolio images are described in essay c. Crop all images and avoid showing anything besides your work Signed Contract a. Print contract or open with PDF editor b. Manually or electronically sign/ date contract c. Take photo or save as PDF d. Email JPG or PDF signed scholarship contract agreement, along with essay and portfolio to: Trevorcoopersmith@gmail.com [subject] Trevor Coopersmith Urban Art Scholarship Feel free to include any other images, websites, awards, or financial documents which may affect your application. Good luck! Contract in PDF below
Past Recipients 2025 Recipient Alejandra Sierazy https://sierazyart.square.site/ 2024 Recipient Jasmine Griffin https://www.canva.com/design/DAHBFsKD5R8/QlYG6iIyvkNZ9P2TIsrRpg/view?utm_content=DAHBFsKD5R8&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h825abb4d61 2023 Recipient Annikah Godard https://www.annikahgodard.com/ 2022 Recipient Ethan Harrer https://www.ethanharrer.com/home 2021 Recipient Bagus Azhari Tosadapotto https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Balapkarung.jpg 2020 Recipient Charu Jain https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/2-charu-jain 2019 Recipient Elaina Eberz http://spraguehs.com/students/students15/eberz_elaina/bootstrap-site/bootstrap-site-index.html 2018 Recipient Symone Tatiana https://www.symonetitania.com 2017 Recipient Douglas Kleinsmith https://douglaskleinsmith.com/home.html
