SOS! (Please someone help me!)

Dear Art Lovers, Collectors, and Champions of Creativity,

I hope this posting finds you well. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on family, community, and the ways we show up for each other. It’s been a while since we last been in touch, so please allow me to re-introduce myself.

My name is C. Joi Adams Sanchez, and my journey as an artist has been anything but conventional. I’m a Brooklyn-born, Bronx-based, self-taught artist, a single mom, and a disco princess who has built a career on resilience, resourcefulness, and an unrelenting passion for creation. My art is not just about self-expression—it’s about survival, transformation, and joy in the face of adversity.

In the past five years, my life has been a whirlwind. The day the world shut down in 2020, my father—once a celebrated musician—was diagnosed as terminally ill. That same day, my apartment ceiling collapsed, I lost my job over email, and I found myself stranded in Texas after a canceled SXSW. I cried in a stranger’s backyard, unsure of how to move forward. But I did.

Since then, I’ve endured a dangerous living situation, provided end-of-life care to my father, navigated homelessness with my children, relocated to The Bronx, and still, somehow, my art has flourished. It has been my therapy, my sanctuary, and my bridge to opportunities I could have never imagined. As an artist, I’ve spent years carving out a space for myself as an artist—through painting, performance, writing, and curation. This work isn’t just what I do; it’s how I make sense of the world, how I heal, and how I create opportunities for others. Now, I’m at a pivotal moment where your support can make all the difference.

Following the passing of my father, Patrick Adams in 2022, I’ve been working to stabilize the foundation of my artistic practices as preparation to inherit his copyrights and publishing over the next few years. This year, I’ve been invited to participate residencies and exhibitions across the country and internationally, including Kolaj Fest (New Orleans), Art in Odd Places (California), and taking Thee Quest for BlackJOY to Australia. I’m also expanding The Glimmer Garden and launching the third season of my artist salon at WoW Café Theater.

Most urgently, I was accepted into the Uncool Artist Studio Residency at Brooklyn Navy Yards, offering a subsidized studio for $3,300 instead of $12K. However, I’m still $3,250 short of the extended April 1 deadline. (And I am sorry for the last minute ask, I’m running a hail mary before I give up)

These opportunities represent a transformational moment in my career. However, without the necessary financial support, I risk losing the chance to fully step into this next phase. The reality is, opportunity means little without resources. I’ve built my career on will and creativity, but to truly sustain my art, I need investment. This isn’t charity—it’s a chance to support something lasting. Whether through a direct contribution, purchasing artwork, or sharing my work, your support is a building block for the future.

This is more than a donation or a favor or a fundraiser—it is a movement. Supporting me and/or the Resilient BlackJOY Fund means investing in art that tells vital stories, uplifts communities, and challenges the narratives imposed on us. It is an opportunity to be part of something that transcends the traditional boundaries of art collection—it is an investment in legacy, impact, and joy.

If you believe in the power of art to heal, transform, and inspire, I invite you to join me in bringing this vision to life. Your support is the bridge between possibility and reality.

Let’s talk if you're open to exploring ways to help. Thank you for always being in my corner—I can’t wait to make you proud.

In love, art and gratitude,
 C. Joi Sanchez

Ways to Give:
 V: @TheNotoriousRBJ | CA: $TheNotoriousRBJ | PayPal: [email protected]
 Patronage: www.TheGodIs.art | www.NotoriousRBJ.art | www.patreon.com/radicalblackjoi