A Lil’ Art Show Builds Big Community Through Black Art, Music and Connection

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

What started as a hashtag has grown into a creative movement.

For Birmingham native Stephen Clements — better known in the art world as Troy Davis — A Lil’ Art Show (ALAS) was born from a simple observation: local artists deserved better opportunities to showcase and sell their work.

Today, the event has become a vibrant celebration of Black creativity, bringing together visual artists, musicians, designers and community members in spaces that feel less like traditional art galleries and more like family reunions.

Hosted recently at House Eleven in downtown Birmingham, A Lil’ Art Show transformed the venue into a gallery of paintings, photography, fashion, music and conversation. Attendees wandered from booth to booth, discovering local artists while DJs kept the room energized, creating an atmosphere where buying art felt as natural as catching up with old friends.

“Lil’ Art Show was a day full of Black art, Black expression, and community. It was a space that felt like home,“ said Jazmin Watson, Senior Communications Manager for Alabama Values.

For Clements, that’s exactly the point.

From Birmingham Roots to Atlanta Growth

Although A Lil’ Art Show has gained momentum in Atlanta, its roots have always belonged to Birmingham.

“I’m from Birmingham,” Clements said. “I went to Scott, South Hampton, Minor High School and graduated from Tuskegee.”

Growing up, creativity was part of everyday life. His father, an artist whose black-and-white drawings were displayed during the show, inspired him to draw at an early age. His love for cartoons eventually led him to teach himself graphic design while studying mechanical engineering at Tuskegee University.

“I’ve always loved music, too,” Clements said. “I used to make beats and create cover art, so all of those passions kind of came together.”

After returning to Birmingham years ago, Clements began participating in local art markets. During one event, someone jokingly remarked that they kept seeing him at “his little art shows.”

The phrase stuck.

“I thought, that’s my nickname,” he laughed. “After that, every event I was part of I started hashtagging ‘A Lil’ Art Show.'”

But it wasn’t long before he noticed a larger problem.

Many artists were paying vendor fees ranging from $50 to $75, only to find sparse crowds and few opportunities to make sales.

“I felt like I could throw better events,” Clements said. “I know a lot of dope local artists, and I felt like I had a good taste in music. So, I started doing it myself.”

His first Birmingham event took place in 2017.

Since then, he has hosted eight shows across Birmingham and Atlanta.

More Than an Art Market

Unlike traditional art fairs, ALAS intentionally blends multiple forms of creativity into one experience.

Visual artists share space with musicians, DJs and creatives from across the city, encouraging collaboration rather than competition.

The show’s soundtrack is equally intentional. Clements and collaborator Wade Brown also operate The Vitamin Pack, a creative platform that highlights independent musicians through curated playlists and live events.

“We wanted to create a platform for artists,” Clements said. “We’re already pushing music through playlists, and now we’re bringing people together in person.”

That approach has helped A Lil Art Show become known not simply as an event, but as a community gathering.

The energy inside House Eleven reflected that vision. Guests browsed artwork, spoke directly with artists about their creative process, danced between exhibits and celebrated Birmingham’s growing creative economy.

Investing in Southern Creativity

This year’s Birmingham event also marked the beginning of a new partnership with the Southern Narrative Project (SNP).

The Southern Narrative Project is a culture-first initiative of Alabama Values created to deepen the organization’s investment in artists, culture-makers and creative communities across the South. While Alabama Values focuses on strengthening democracy through communications, research and civic engagement, the Southern Narrative Project recognizes that culture shapes how communities connect, create and imagine the future. The initiative was established to create dedicated space for that work by investing in the people, partnerships and cultural experiences that help Southern creativity thrive.

Rather than seeking out sponsorship, Clements said the organization found him.

“They hit me up,” he said. “I wasn’t even looking for them.”

The partnership provided marketing support for the event while affirming the importance of investing in Black cultural spaces throughout Alabama.

“The Southern Narrative Project, also known as SNP, a culture-first narrative initiative, is proud to have sponsored A Lil’ Art Show because we know the importance of creating communal spaces that amplify Southern people, celebrate our culture, and honor the stories that shape the world we live in,” Watson said. “Events like this remind us that culture isn’t just something we experience — it’s something we create together.”

For Clements, the partnership aligns with a vision he’s held since launching the event nearly a decade ago.

“They said they want to help push A Lil’ Art Show all through Alabama,” he said. “I’ve been trying to do that anyway.”

Staying Connected to Birmingham

Even after living in Atlanta for nearly a decade, Clements said Birmingham remains central to everything he creates.

“I don’t ever want to neglect Birmingham,” he said. “That’s the first thing I tell people.”

That commitment led him to bring A Lil’ Art Show back home this year. After searching for the right venue, a recommendation from a longtime friend introduced him to House Eleven. The intimate setting proved to be a perfect fit.

“I knew I had to throw something in there,” he said.

His decision reflects a broader goal of creating spaces where Birmingham artists can be celebrated without having to leave the city.

Looking Ahead

Clements has ambitious plans for the future of A Lil’ Art Show. He envisions a statewide tour, continued collaborations with Southern creatives and eventually hosting an event inside the Birmingham Museum of Art.

“I want my show as big as Art Beats + Lyrics,” he said. “I want to throw A Lil’ Art Show at the Birmingham Museum of Art, and I feel like I can.”

Judging by the growing crowds, expanding partnerships and enthusiasm from artists and attendees alike, that goal no longer feels out of reach.

What began as one artist’s response to a broken vendor experience has evolved into something much larger — a celebration of Black creativity rooted in Birmingham but with aspirations reaching across Alabama and beyond.

For one afternoon, A Lil’ Art Show lived up to its name only in title. Everything else about it felt anything but little.