48 Hills is the San Francisco Bay Area’s #1 independent, non-profit and local daily news and culture journal, based in San Francisco, CA.

Founded in 2013 by former editor and publisher, respectively, of The Bay Guardian, Tim Redmond and Marke Bieschke, 48 Hills serves the community by providing breaking news, political analysis and in-depth stories on arts and culture in San Francisco and its immediate surrounding cities.

48 Hills, a community supported publication, gets its name from this concept: “There are 47 hills officially named in the city of San Francisco – but for those seeking social justice, there is always one more hill to climb.”

In 2024, 48 Hills was awarded 16 California Journalism Awards for excellence in journalism. My article, “In tapestries of Bay Area street life, Dance Doyle weaves a world” won an award in the Arts & Entertainment Coverage category. See the complete list of awards here.

Since 2020, I have been writing a regular, twice-monthly art column for 48 Hills which highlights local artists in the Bay Area. My intention is to shine a much-needed spotlight on lesser-known artists whether early, mid, or late-career; specifically, the demographic that is overlooked in a predominantly white male arts culture.

The artists I choose to share with readers are of any gender identification but primarily: Women (only 2% of the art market), BIPOC, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, elders (people over the age of 60), self-taught artists, and emerging voices from urban areas not often represented in galleries or museums. Presenting work by artists as diverse as the Bay Area itself, is the goal.

In my pursuit of introducing each artist, it is my job to observe and listen. By distilling the words in which the artist speaks about their own work and life, I present their story in their own unique voice. If I have illuminated each individual spirit with honesty and respect, then I have done my job.

If you know an artist that deserves this attention, I greatly appreciate your recommendation. Send me an email with artist’s name and contact info.

Read five excerpted selections from the column by navigating from the Nonfiction / Articles drop-down menu above or begin with the link below. Visit 48 Hills for more information about this important community resource. To view all articles from my column, link to my 48 Hills author page here.

48 Hills – Article 1: Artist Profile of Michelle E. Fillmore

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