Last week, Google Pixel and LENS celebrated the launch of Creator Labs, an incubator for professional photographers, directors, and YouTubers, with the unveiling of a group exhibition grounded in ubiquitous societal issues. The exhibition’s curators carefully selected Andrew Thomas Huang, Anthony Prince Leslie, Glassface, Joshua Kissi, June Canedo, MaryV Benoit, Mayan Toledano, Myles Loftin, Quil Lemons and Tim Kellner to showcase their boldly confrontational work at the opening. Born out of a conversation about aiding in the success of the next generation’s artists, Creator Labs commissions content captured on the Pixel 4 that makes a relevant social impact and shares a powerful cultural narrative. 

As part of the newly-founded incubator program, Google and LENS provided each selected artists with a Pixel 4 and funding in order to jumpstart their socially-conscious creative endeavors. The exhibition featured photograph displays and film debuts that tackled issues including mental health, black masculinity, climate change, LGBTQIA+ rights, the Latinx identity and more. Forming the foundation for necessary societal conversation among the next generation of artists, Google and LENS’s Creator Labs program is shaping the future impact of young artists with the intention of spreading positive messages surrounding prevalent social issues. 

Below, take a look at a few images from the launch party.