A background in storytelling and photography plays a big part in Rashaun Rucker's art, which he uses to direct attention to critical social issues.

The Vanguard Artist Collective is a semi-formal nod to pioneering Chicago-based black art collectives like the Organization of Black American Culture and AfriCOBRA, which were founded during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

“We push each other to be better artists and better people — even when it’s critical,” says Rucker.

Kresge Arts in Detroit has named the 20 recipients of its 2019 fellowships and awards in literary and visual arts, which are given annually to Detroit-based writers and artists working in different mediums. Each of the 18 artist fellows gets an unrestricted grant of $25,000, and the two winners of the organization’s Gilda Awards, which recognize artists early in their careers, receive $5,000 to support their practice.