Gold Was Made Fa' Her: Empowering Black Women Artists

Gold Was Made Fa' Her (GWMFH) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) arts and healing movement based in Houston, Texas. Founded by transdisciplinary artist Bria Lauren in 2019, it originated as a photographic body of work and a visual love letter dedicated to Black hood women on the Southside of Houston and Lauren's mother, Rhonda Renee Harrison-Davis. The organization focuses on memorializing and amplifying the visibility of Black women who have been impacted by structural inequity, generational narratives, and respectability politics. Gold Was Made Fa' Her is committed to several core values, including radical care, collective liberation, and sustainability. Through its annual residency program, the movement provides unrestricted funding, space, and curatorial support to Black women artists, such as its 2025 resident Irene Antonia Diane Reece. By dismantling systemic barriers and fostering preservation within the Black South, Gold Was Made Fa' Her works to nourish future generations and ensure that rest and joy are accessible inheritances. The movement partners with various community institutions, like Lawndale Art Center and the Carver Museum, to champion the impact and legacy of Black women's creative practices and support artists who are often overlooked in the traditional art landscape.